The Battle of Hamra’ Al-Asad

Allah ‘Azawajal said,

[الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَـبَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ]

(“Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded“) [3:172].

This occurred on the day of Hamra’ Al-Asad. After the idolators defeated the Muslims (at Uhud), they started on their way back home, but soon they were concerned because they did not finish off the Muslims in Al-Madinah, so they set out to make that battle the final one.

When the Messenger of Allah got news of this, he commanded the Muslims to march to meet the disbelievers, to bring fear to their hearts and to demonstrate that the Muslims still had strength to fight. The Prophet only allowed those who were present during Uhud to accompany him, except for Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansari, as we will mention. The Muslims mobilized, even though they were still suffering from their injuries, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger .

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ikrimah said, “When the idolators returned [towards Makkah] after Uhud, they said, `You neither killed Muhammad nor collected female captives. Woe to you for what you did. Let us go back.’ When the Messenger of Allah heard this news, he mobilized the Muslim forces, and they marched until they reached Hamra Al-Asad. The idolators said, `Rather, we will meet next year’, and the Messenger of Allah went back [to Al-Madinah], and this was considered a Ghazwah (battle).”

Allah ‘Azawajal sent down,

[الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَـبَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ لِلَّذِينَ

أَحْسَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ]

(“Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allah, there is a great reward.“)

Al-Bukhari recorded that `A’ishah said to `Urwah about the Ayah;

[الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ]

(“Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger“)

“My nephew! Your fathers Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr were among them. After the Prophet suffered the calamity at Uhud and the idolators went back, he feared that the idolators might try to come back and he said, `Who would follow them’ Seventy men, including Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr, volunteered.” This was recorded by Al-Bukhari alone.

As for Allah Azawajal’s statement,

[الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ

إِيمَـناً]

(“Those unto whom the people said, “Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.” But it (only) increased them in faith) [3:173], it means, those who threatened the people, saying that the disbelievers have amassed against them, in order to instill fear in them, but this did not worry them, rather, they trusted in Allah and sought His help,

[وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ]

(“and they said: “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.”)

Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said,

[حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ]

(“Allah Alone is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us.”)

“Ibrahim said it when he was thrown in fire. Prophet Salalahu ‘Aleyhi wa Salam said it when the people said, `Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.’ But it only increased them in faith, and they said, `Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us.” Abu Bakr Ibn Marduwyah recorded that Anas bin Malik said that the Prophet was told on the day of Uhud,

“Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.”

Thereafter, Allah sent down this Ayah [3:173].