Towards a New Battle

Three years had passed after the Emigration. The Quraysh, unable to forget the great blow that had struck them at Badr, had prepared a new army with help and support from the surrounding tribes. They had started out from Mecca towards Medina with the thought of taking revenge from the Muslims. Our Prophet learned about the situation thanks to a letter that his uncle, noble Abbas, sent to him from Mecca. A short while later, the Messenger of Allah was also informed of the fact that the Meccan army consisted of three thousand people. The polytheists were advancing towards Medina with three thousand camels, two hundred horses and great determination. Abu Sufyan was the commander of the army. Khalid ibn Walid was the commander of the horseman and Abu Jahl’s son, Ikrima, was helping him.

The Meccan army had come very close to Uhud and was waiting there with the thought of destroying Medina all together. The Messenger of Allah came together with his Companions in order to consult with them about how they should take action against the recent developments. First, they considered the information they had on the Meccan army. Especially the Companions who had become Muslim after the battle of Badr were for confronting them and fighting. However, our Prophet thought that it would be more convenient to defend the city without leaving it. He had shared with some of his Companions a dream he had seen which he interpreted to mean that some of his Companions would be martyred in this battle. For this reason he was in support of defense rather than offense. Despite this, the Messenger of Allah also wanted instill the concept of consultation, which was one of Allah’s commands, into the society of the believers. Seeing that the majority favored the strategy of fighting outside of Medina, he conformed according to the general preference and decided they meet the Meccan army outside of Medina.