Mount Uhud: Difference between revisions

'''Mount Uhud''' is a mountain located north of [[Medina]], which was the site of the [[Battle of Uhud]]. Today, due to the expansion of the city of Medina, this mountain is located within the city. Its distance from [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|Al-Masjid an-Nabawi]] is five and a half kilometers. Another name for Mount Uhud is Dhu Aynayn. Uhud is a mountain range and consists of numerous peaks. <br />In the third year of the Hijra, the Battle of Uhud took place on this mountain between Muslims and polytheists from [[Mecca]], and many Muslims were [[martyred]] in it. By the order of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)|Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)]], some of the fallen in this battle, including [[Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Hamza]], the Prophet's uncle, were buried at the foot of Mount Uhud.

Uhud is the name of a mountain range in the northeast of [[Medina]]<ref>Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. 1, p. 109; Wafa al-Wafa, vol. 3, p. 108.</ref> located five and a half kilometers from [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|Al-Masjid an-Nabawi]].<ref>Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, p. 354.</ref> Before Islam, it was called Unqud (cluster).<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah, vol. 1, p. 85.</ref> The reason for the name Uhud (meaning "one" and "alone") has been attributed to its separation from other mountains or the support of the people of Medina for [[Tawhid]] (monotheism).<ref>Fath al-Bari, vol. 7, pp. 289-290; Wafa al-Wafa, vol. 3, p. 108; Sharh Usul al-Kafi, vol. 12, p. 447.</ref> Mount Uhud is also called Dhu Aynayn (possessor of two springs).<ref>Umdat al-Qari, vol. 17, p. 138; Al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyah, vol. 1, p. 240.</ref> At the foot of this mountain and at the entrance of the Uhud valley, there is the small mountain of [[Mount Aynayn|Aynayn]]; the same mountain on which, during the [[Battle of Uhud]], the Messenger of God positioned the archers.<ref>Al-Tabaqat, vol. 2, p. 30.</ref>  

The Uhud mountain range, with a length of six<ref>Athar al-Madinah, p. 193; Tarikh Ma'alim al-Madinah, p. 317.</ref> to seven<ref>Tarikh wa Athar Islami Makkah, p. 307.</ref> kilometers and a width of one to three kilometers, stretches from east to west and covers an area of 19 square kilometers.<ref>Tarikh wa Athar Islami Makkah, p. 307.</ref> Its elevation from the ground is 300 meters and from sea level is 1000 meters.<ref>Tarikh wa Athar Islami Makkah, p. 307.</ref> This mountain range is formed by massive rocks and various small and large peaks.<ref>Athar al-Madinah, p. 193.</ref> Its peaks are separated from each other like a cluster of grapes, appearing independent to the observer.<ref>Athar al-Madinah, p. 193.</ref> Most of the rocks of this mountain appear red.<ref>Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. 1, p. 109; Tarikh Ma'alim al-Madinah, p. 317.</ref> Rocks of other colors are also seen there.<ref>Athar al-Madinah, p. 193.</ref>   

Today, this mountain is located within the city. One can now reach Mount Uhud and the [[Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery|martyrs' shrine]] from the Prophet's Mosque via King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Highway. There is also a route from Sayyid al-Shuhada Street.<ref>Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, p. 354.</ref>  

The city of [[Medina]] is situated amidst low, scattered hills and mountains, various farms and palm groves, and is surrounded by natural barriers on three sides. The eastern Harrah and western Harrah are to its east and west, and the palm groves are to its south.<ref>See: Tarikh Ma'alim al-Madinah, pp. 315-338; Atlas Tarikh Islam, p. 9.</ref> Thus, an invading military force can only enter the city from the north, from the northwest side of Mount Uhud, and then along its southern flank.<ref>Tarikh Ma'alim al-Madinah, pp. 315-338; Atlas Tarikh Islam, pp. 9-13.</ref>  

During the [[Battle of the Trench]], the army of [[Quraysh]], which came from [[Mecca]] in the south towards Medina, had no choice but to pass through this area to enter the city. [[Muhammad|The Prophet of Islam (PBUH)]] established his command post and forces on the southern slope of Uhud, with their backs to the mountain and facing the city, such that if the enemy advanced towards the city, the Muslims would be behind them.<ref>See: Islamic Monuments of Mecca and Medina, pp. 361-362.</ref>  

Many reports regarding the virtues and importance of Mount Uhud are found in Islamic sources. According to [[Ibn Shabba]] (died 262 AH) in [[Tarikh al-Madinah (Ibn Shabba)|Tarikh al-Madinah]], when [[Prophet (PBUH)]] was returning to [[Medina]] from the [[Battle of Khaybar]], upon seeing Mount Uhud, he said: Uhud loves us, and we love it.<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah, vol. 1, p. 81.</ref> In another narration from him, it is stated: Uhud is at one of the gates of Paradise.<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah, vol. 1, pp. 82-84.</ref> Whenever you pass by it, eat from its plants and trees.<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah, vol. 1, p. 83.</ref>  

The Prophet (PBUH) designated Medina as a [[Haram (sacred precinct)|Haram]].<ref>Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 221; vol. 8, p. 10; Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, pp. 115-116, 217.</ref> The word Haram extends 12 miles, equivalent to four farsakhs, in every direction, and Mount Uhud is located within this boundary.<ref>Al-Musannaf, vol. 9, pp. 260-261; Fath al-Bari, vol. 4, pp. 72-73; Awn al-Ma'bud, vol. 6, p. 16.</ref> In Persian literature, the proverb "His back is to Mount Uhud" is an idiom for "having strong support. In narrations, Mount Uhud is used as a symbol for greatness and abundance; for example, "Whoever worships for two-thirds of the night will have a reward equivalent to the grains of sand in the desert, the least of which is a good deed ten times heavier than Mount Uhud."<ref>Amali, p. 368.</ref>

In the third year of Hijra, a fierce battle took place on the southern slope of this mountain between Muslims and the polytheists of [[Quraysh]], which was named the [[Battle of Uhud]]. In this battle, a number of Muslims were killed, and by the command of Prophet(s), they were buried at the site of their martyrdom on the slopes of this very mountain,<ref>Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, vol. 2, pp. 60, 98; Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 2, p. 499.</ref> and their shrine is still a place of pilgrimage for Muslims. According to some reports, before the Prophet's command, the bodies of some martyrs were buried in other locations, and it was not possible to return them to Uhud.<ref>Al-Maghazi, vol. 1, p. 312.</ref> The body of [[Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Hamza]], the Prophet's uncle, was buried on the slope of this mountain, in the place where his shrine is now located.<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah, vol. 1, p. 125.</ref>

Mihras is a stone basin on the ridge of Mount Uhud, from which, after the Battle of Uhud, [[Ali ibn Abi Talib|Imam Ali (AS)]] filled his shield with water and brought it to Prophet (PBUH) so that he could wash his bloodied face with it.<ref>Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 2, p. 519; Wafa al-Wafa, vol. 4, p. 152.</ref>

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