The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light) Part-2: An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part Four

By Muhammad Yunus, New Age Islam (Co-author (Jointly with Ashfaque Ullah Syed), Essential Message of Islam, Amana Publications, USA, 2009) 10 July 2025 Section-4. Battle Of Uhud (625 Ad) 172. The Quraysh Send A Combined Attacking Army The Quraysh collaborated with the nomadic tribes, hostile to Muhammad and sent a combined army, which camped at the plane facing Mount Uhud, a few miles from Medina. The primary motive of the Quraysh was to avenge their humiliating defeat at Badr and equally importantly to get rid of Muhammad and his steadily growing followers who had successfully challenged their authority and gained a decisive victory at the battle of Badr.. 173. The Qur’an Prepares The Medinite Muslims For The Battle: The revelation commands the Prophet to urge the believers to fight without compelling anyone (4:84). It reminds that at Badr also they were weak and helpless (3:123) and it inspired them with Allah’s promise of sending down three thousand angels (3:124). It declared that if they stood firm and dutiful in the face of a sudden attack, Allah would assist them with five thousand angels, swooping down (3:125). It, however, clarified that Allah had made this (promise) only to set their hearts at peace (3:126), (3:127) 174. The Hypocrites Withdrew On Way To The Battlefield] On way to the battlefield a faction of Muslims (the hypocrites) withdrew saying, if they knew how to fight, they would have followed the Prophet (3:167). They also divulged matters of secrecy or alarm to others, instead of informing the matter to the Prophet and those in authority (4:83). 175 On The Day Of Encounter, The Prophet’s Followers Made Initial Gains The Prophet left early in the morning to put his people at battle stations (3:121). Initially, the Muslims made decisive gains, when some of the fighters weakened: they argued over the order and disobeyed after Allah showed them what they loved of this world (victory/booty) (3:152). They ran off, paying attention to no one and ignoring the Prophet calling them from behind. 176. The Muslim Defenders Are Distracted To Collect Booty As the Muslim defenders ran for booty, the attackers struck back and thus Allah repaid them with affliction upon affliction so that they would not sorrow over what slipped away from them (3:153). Two of their factions almost lost hope (3:122). [The Qur’an does not identify them] 177. The Muslims Suffered Heavy Casualties: The Qur’an remains silent about any death toll but it urged the defenders not to despair or grieve (3:139) and consoled, them that if they were wounded, their enemies had also sustained injuries. (It reminded them that) these were the days of changing fortune to which Allah subjects humankind to know which of them truly believe (3:140) that He may purge those who believe and destroy the unbelievers (3:141) This implies that the Muslims had suffered heavy losses (According to authentic biographic accounts there were 63 dead). Allah sent down a sense of security – an inner peace over a group of them (who were firm in faith), while others (the hypocrites) who had been anxious about themselves, were assailed with the thoughts of pagan ignorance. They said, ‘if we had any say in the matter our men would not have been killed (3:154). Those, who had stayed back said of their brethren: ‘Had they obeyed us, they would not have been killed (3:168) 178. The Prophet Was Seriously If Not Fatally Wounded: (The revelation reminds the Prophet’s followers that) • “Muhammad was merely a messenger, other messengers had passed away before him, so if he died or was killed would they turn on their heels? (3:144). The verse revealed in the context of a raging battle in which the Muslim were suffering heavy losses is suggestive of the Prophet suffering some grievous wounds during combat – as we find in biographic records, which is omitted from this work which draws primarily on the Qur’anic records - however sketchy they may be. 179. The Attackers Head Home In The Face Of A Rumour That The Prophet Was Dead. The Qur’anic verse (3:144) about the passing away of all prophets must have triggered a rumor of the Prophet dying in combat as appears in the Prophet’s Biographic accounts. This, as the account goes, assured the Meccans of the success of their mission (killing the Prophet) and made them leave the battle field and depart for home (Mecca) in joy and pride. The revelation exhorts the Prophet’s followers not to let up in pursuit (4:104) and promised the wounded followers of the Prophet who responded to the Prophet’s call - those among them who did good and remained active in taqwa, a splendid reward (3:172). Conceivably, the pursuit ended without any engagement, as the Qur’an does not follow up on the pursuit. 180. The Prophet’s Company Returns To Medina Safe And Unharmed. A rumour circulated in the Prophet’s camp that a host had gathered against them at Medina, so they have to be wary. But this only increased their faith (3:173) and they returned home by the grace and blessings of Allah, untouched by harm (3:174). The revelation consoles the Prophet’s followers that it is not for Allah to leave them in the (dire) state they were in until He separates the bad ones form the good and it is not for Allah to inform them of the unseen (3:179). The safe return of the Muslim defenders to Medina symbolizing a victory for the Prophet was frustrating to the hypocrites. They came to Muhammad pretending to bear witness that he was a Messenger of Allah, but they were liars (63:1). They used their faith as a cover to lead others away from Allah and. thus acted in an evil way (63:2), first embracing faith and then denying it. It was as if their hearts were sealed up and they were unable to think coherently (63:3). 181. The Revelation Labels The Hypocrites As The Comrades Of Satan The hypocrites were charming in look, deceitful in speech, commanded profound self-confidence and turned away from the believers in arrogance (63:4-5). They discouraged the people of Medina (Ansars or Supporters) from spending anything for the Meccan Muslims (Emigrants) in order to force them out of Medina and looked forward to the expulsion of the humble ones (Muhammad and the Emigrants) after their return to Medina (63:7-8). Thus, they contended against Allah and His Messenger in brazenly despicable manner for which the revelation singles them out as the comrades of Satan (58:19/20). 182. The Prophet Was Mild To The Muslim Dissenters (Hypocrites) It was due to mercy from Allah that the Prophet was mild to the dissenters (among his followers during the Uhud battle who defied him (3:153/176 above). The revelation commands the Prophet to consult with them, asks his followers to put their trust in Allah and assures them that no prophet could be false to his trust (by giving his own decision in Allah’s name) (3:160-161). Also Read (Previous Parts of Part One): The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part One The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Two The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Three The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Four The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Five The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Six The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Seven The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Eight The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part Nine The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part Ten The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part Eleven ------ Parts of Part Two: The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light) Part-2: An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part One The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light) Part-2: An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part Two The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light) Part-2: An Exposition of Qur’anic Guidance in Its Own Words - Part Three ----- Muhammad Yunus, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology, and a retired corporate executive has been engaged in an in-depth study of the Qur’an since early 90’s, focusing on its core message. He has co-authored the referred exegetic work, which received the approval of al-Azhar al-Sharif, Cairo in 2002, and following restructuring and refinement was endorsed and authenticated by Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl of UCLA, and published by Amana Publications, Maryland, USA, 2009. URL: New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism