the importance of its results can scarcely be exaggerated. Hitherto the enemies of the Prophet had continually taunted him with his inability to perform miracles; now at length it seemed as if a miracle had been wrought. The victory gained at Badr over a greatly superior force is ascribed in the Koran to the intervention of angels, an explanation which, it is needless to say, was unhesitatingly accepted by all Muslims.[1] On his return to Medina, Mahomet ventured on a series of high-handed measures which struck terror into all his opponents. Several persons who had offended him were assassinated by his order. At the same time the Banū Ḳainuḳā', one of the Jewish clans resident at Medina, were banished from the place; their houses and valuables became the property of the Muslims.
Meanwhile the Meccans, irritated by their defeat and fearing for the safety of their caravans, on which they were dependent for the means of subsistence, had determined to make an attack in force. Early in the year 625 an army of about 3000 men, commanded by Abū Sufyān, marched from Mecca and encamped near a hill called Uḥud, a few miles to the north of Medina. A considerable proportion of the Medinese, in particular 'Abdallāh ibn Ubayy, wished to remain on the defensive; but Mahomet, with less than his usual prudence, rejected their advice. Although the force at his disposal scarcely numbered 1000 men, he resolved to make a sortie and assail the Meccans in the rear. At first this bold plan appeared likely to prove successful. He was able to take up a strong position on the slopes of Uḥud, whence the Muslims charged the enemy and drove them back with some loss. But the Meccan horsemen, led by Khālid ibn al-Walīd, succeeded in outflanking the Muslims, who were at once thrown into confusion. Some fled to Medina, while others fought their way back to the hill. Among these latter was Mahomet himself, who for a while remained hidden in a ravine. Meanwhile a rumour that he was slain had spread in the ranks of the Meccans, and for this reason, it would appear, they did not take advantage of their victory. Supposing that they had sufficiently avenged the blood shed at Badr, they made no attempt to attack Medina but prepared to march homewards. Of the Muslims only about 70 men were left dead on the battle-field; one of these was Ḥamza, the Prophet's uncle, a valiant warrior, it is true, but not by any means a model of piety. Hind, the wife of Abū Sufyān and mother of the Caliph Mu'āwiya, had, together with a number of other women, accompanied the Meccan army; remembering that Ḥamza had slain some of her nearest relatives at Badr, she took vengeance on his corpse by tearing his liver with her teeth. Such barbarity was quite unusual among the
- ↑ The historians, citing the testimony of eye-witnesses, supply us with remarkably precise information about the angels who fought at Badr; thus, for instance, they wore white turbans, with the exception of Gabriel, who had a yellow one (Ibn Hishām, p. 450).
