Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the day of the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Abdullah bin Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) as the commander over fifty archers and stationed them at a certain place. He said: “If you see that birds are coming to eat our corpses, even then do not leave this place until I myself send you a message. And if you see that we have overcome the enemy and trampled them, even then do not go here or there from this place until I myself send you a message.” Sayyiduna Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Muslims defeated the disbelievers. By Allah! I saw women running up the mountain, that is, walking quickly in panic, and their shins and anklets were visible, and they had lifted their clothes. Seeing this situation, the fellow archers of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “People! Let us go and collect the spoils of war. The Muslims have achieved victory, what are you waiting for now?” Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) told them repeatedly, “Have you forgotten what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded you?” When these people reached the battlefield, the situation changed, and they returned defeated. It was at this time that the Messenger was calling them from behind, and only twelve men remained with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the disbelievers had killed seventy of our men, whereas on the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the noble Companions had killed seventy disbelievers and taken seventy disbelievers captive. After the battle, Abu Sufyan called out and asked: “Is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) among you? Is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) among you? Is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) among you?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the Muslims from answering him. After that, he called out and asked, “Is the son of Abu Quhafah, that is, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), among you? Is the son of Abu Quhafah among you? Is the son of Khattab among you? Is the son of Khattab among you?” Then he looked towards his companions with joy and said, “All these people have been killed, and your work regarding them is complete.” Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), upon hearing these words, could not control himself and said, “O enemy of Allah! You are lying. All those whom you have named are alive, and bad news remains for you.” Abu Sufyan said, “Today is in exchange for Badr, and such is the way of battle—sometimes one prevails, sometimes another. You will see that your slain Muslims have been mutilated, but I did not order anyone to do so. However, I do not dislike this act either.” Then, in joy, he began to recite such verses: “O Hubal! Be exalted, O Hubal! Be exalted.” At that, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Will you not answer him?” The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What should we say in reply?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Say: Allah is Most High and Most Majestic (اللّٰہُ أَعْلٰی وَأَجَلُّ).” Abu Sufyan said, “We have ‘Uzza, but you have no ‘Uzza.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Why do you not answer him?” The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said, “O Messenger of Allah! What should we say?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Say: Allah is our Protector and you have no protector (اللّٰہُ مَوْلَانَا وَلَا مَوْلٰی لَکُمْ).”