The Muslims had been victorious on the Day of Badr by the help of Allah, the Exalted. In revenge, the polytheists agreed to fight the Muslims, prepared for war, and advanced until they camped near Mount Uhud. The Prophet ﷺ consulted his Companions and went out towards them with one thousand fighters. Then the hypocrite ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy turned back with three hundred of them.
The Prophet ﷺ arranged the ranks for battle, placed his back to Uhud, and appointed fifty archers on Jabal Rumah. At the beginning of the day the advantage lay with the Muslims. When the archers saw this, they said, “(Let us go to) the booty!” When they abandoned the pass, the cavalry of the polytheists charged the Muslims and surrounded them. Many Muslims were martyred, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was wounded. The polytheists reached him, intending to kill him, but the Companions stood between him and them.
He then went down into one of the ravines of Mount Uhud, the Muslims gathered around him, and he performed the ẓuhr prayer sitting.
