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That was the last attack made by the idolaters against the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Being almost certain of his death, the idolaters returned to their camp and started preparations to go back to Makkah. Some of them involved themselves in mutilating the killed Muslims, and so did their women. Women and men cut off the ears, the noses, the genitals of the martyrs. They even cut open their bellies. Hind bin ‘Utbah — for instance — ripped open the liver of Hamzah and chewed it; but finding it unpleasant, she spat it out. She even made the ears and noses of Muslims into anklets and necklaces.

Two incidents occurred during the last hours of the fight. Which revealed for certain how far the Muslims were ready to fight and sacrifice in the way of Allâh:

Ka‘b bin Malik said: I was one of those Muslims who fought in Uhud and witnessed the polytheists’ act of barbarity in mutilating the dead bodies, but I passed them because I couldn’t stand it. Then I saw an armed stout idolater pass through the Muslims and say: “Gather them up and combine them in the way that sheep are gathered and slaughtered.” Similarly I saw an armed Muslim waiting for him. I walked towards them till I stood behind him. Comparing both of them, I found that the disbeliever was better than the other in arms and figure. I kept on watching them till they were engaged in single combat. The Muslim thrust at the disbeliever with his sword that went down his hip and split it into two. When the Muslim unveiled his face, he said: “What about that, Ka‘b. I am Abu Dujana."
Some Muslim women came to the battlefield when the fight was over. Anas said: I saw ‘Aishah bint Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) with Umm Sulaim. Their garments were gathered up so I could see their anklets. They carried water bags on their shoulders and emptied them into the mouths of people. Then they would go back to fill them and come back to do the same. ‘Umar said: “Umm Saleet used to carry water bags to us on Uhud Day.”
When Umm Aiman, who was one of those Muslim women who saw the defeated Muslim fighters entering Madinah, she started throwing dust at their faces rebukingly saying: “Here is a spinning wheel, take it! and give up carrying swords.” Then she raced to the battlefield. There she watered the wounded. Hibban bin Al-‘Arqa shot an arrow at her, she fell down and her clothes were lifted up. Seeing that, the enemy of Allâh, burst into laughter. That sight upset the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), so he gave Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas an arrow lacking an arrow-head and said “Shoot it”. Sa‘d shot it, it pierced the idolater’s throat. He fell down and some parts of his body were revealed. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) then laughed so much that his molars could be seen. Sa‘d avenged her and Allâh responded to her supplication.

As soon as the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) reached the defile, ‘Ali bin Abu Talib went out and filled his water container with water from Al-Mihras. ‘Al-Mihras’ is said to be hollow (concaved) rock containing plenty of water. It was also said that it is a water spring in Uhud mountain. Anyway, ‘Ali brought that water to the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) to drink. Finding that it smelt bad he refused to drink it, but only washed the blood off his face and poured some of it over his head saying: Allâh’s Wrath is great on those who besmeared His Messenger’s face with blood.

Sahl said: “By Allâh, I know who washed the wound of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) and who poured out water for him and what (substances) his wound was treated with: His daughter Fatimah washed it, whereas ‘Ali poured water out of the container. When Fatimah realized that water increased the flow of blood, she took a piece of straw mat, burnt it a little and stuck it to the wound so blood ceased flowing.”

Muhammad bin Maslamah brought him fresh water to drink. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) drank and supplicated Allâh to provide him with good things. Owing to the wounds and their bad effects on his body, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) led his followers in prayer in a sitting posture and so did the Muslims.

When the preparations of the idolaters for departure came to an end, Abu Sufyan went up the mountain and called out: “Is Muhammad (Peace be upon him) among you?” They did not answer him. Then he asked “Is Ibn Abi Quhafah (i.e. Abu Bakr) among you?” They did not answer. He asked again: “Is ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab among you?” They did not answer him; for the Prophet (Peace be upon him) forbade them answering him. He only asked about those three. That is because he and his people knew quite well that the call to Islam depended to a large degree on those men. Abu Sufyan then said: “As for those three, we have relieved you of.” ‘Umar could not help but talking, so he said, “O enemy of Allâh, those whom you have just mentioned, I tell you that they are still alive. Allâh has maintained what you hate.” Abu Sufyan answered: “The mutilation of your killed is something I did not order it; but it did not displease me.” Then he shouted: “Hubal (an idol), let it be sublime!” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Why do you not reply?” “What shall we say?” They asked him. “Say: Allâh is more Sublime and Exalted and Mightier as well.”

He said: “Al-‘Uzza (i.e. an idol) is ours but you have no ‘Uzza.” “Why do you not reply?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said. “What shall we say?” They inquired. He said: “Say Allâh is our Protector, but you have no protector.”

Abu Sufyan said: “Well deeds! Today is a vengeance for Badr Day. This for that. War is attended with alternate success.” ‘Umar’s reply was: “No. They are not the same. Our killed men are housed in Paradise; but yours are in Fire.”

Then Abu Sufyan said: “Come on, ‘Umar!” The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) said: “Go and see what the matter is.” He went there. Abu Sufyan asked him: “I beseech you by Allâh’s Name to tell me the truth: Have we killed Muhammad (Peace be upon him)?” ‘Umar said: “O Allâh, ‘No’ and now he islistening to you words.” He said: “For me, you are more truthful than Ibn Qami’a, and even more reliable.”

Ibn Ishaq said: When Abu Sufyan and those who were with him were leaving he called out notifying: “We will meet again at Badr next year.” The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) said to one of his men: “Say: ‘Yes, it is an appointment for both of us.’”

Later on, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) dispatched ‘Ali bin Abi Talib to trace them out. He said to him: “Pursue them and see what they are going to do, and what they aim at. If they dismount horses and ride on camels’ back, this means that they are heading for Makkah; but if they ride horses and lead camels unmounted, they are leaving for Madinah. By the One, in Whose Hand my soul is, if they attacked Madinah I would march to them there and I would fight them.” ‘Ali said: “I went out and traced them to see what they were up to. I saw them mounting camels and leaving the horses unmounted. They were heading for Makkah.”

After the departure of the Quraishites, people went out to check the identity of the killed and the wounded. Zaid bin Thabit said: “The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) sent me on Uhud Day to seek Sa‘d bin Ar-Rabî‘ and said: “When you see him, say: ‘peace be upon you from me.’ and say to him ‘the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) says: How do you feel?’” Zaid said: “I started wandering about checking the killed till I came across Sa‘d when he was dying — with about seventy strokes or stabs of a sword, a spear and an arrow in his body.So I said: “O Sa‘d, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) sends you his greetings. and says ‘peace be upon you, tell me how do you feel?’” Sa‘d said: “And let peace be upon the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), too. Tell him, I smell the scent of the Paradise. And tell the Helpers, my people, ‘you shall not be excused before Allâh if the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) is hurt and your eyes are blinking’ (i.e. you are still alive and not dead).” Then he died.

They came across Al-Usairim — ‘Amr bin Thabit, whom they had already urged to embrace Islam but refused. They saw him among the wounded on the verge of close death. “What has he come here for? We have parted with him and he was still too obdurate to accept Islam as his religion”. They asked him: “What made you come here? Is it out of zeal to defend your people or is it because of an inclination to Islam?” He said: “It is (certainly) an inclination to Islam. I believe in Allâh and in His Messenger. I have fought with the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) till I have got what you see,” and then he immediately died. They told the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) about him. Hearing that, he said: “He is one of the inhabitants of Paradise.” “Although he had not offered one single prayer,” narrated Abu Hurairah.

Qazman, who was found among the wounded, fought heroically, and killed seven or eight idolaters. He was weakened by the wounds he had sustained, they carried him to the habitation of Bani Zufr. The Muslims gave him glad tidings of the Paradise. But he said: “By Allâh I have fought out of a zeal to my people. Had it not been for that I would have never fought.” When his wounds worsened he committed suicide. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) had already said whenever he was mentioned to him: “He is an inhabitant of Fire.” This is the end of those who fight for a national cause or in a way other than that of raising up the Word of Allâh, though they fought under the banner of Islam or even in the army of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) or of his Companions.

Contrary to Qazman there was a Jew of Bani Tha‘labah among the killed. He said to his people, “O folk people of Jews! By Allâh you have already known that it is imperative to support Muhammad (Peace be upon him).” They said: “Today is Saturday.” He said: “There is no Saturday for you.” He took his sword and the war equipment and said: “If I were killed, my property should be put at Muhammad’s disposal”. Then next morning he kept on fighting till he was killed. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) said about him, “Mukhaireeq is the best Jew.”

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