The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABO AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHfR 11
The proof of this is that wine was prohibited on the nights when Banii
al-Nadir were being besieged. It is established in the sahib collections that
some of those who died as martyrs at Uhud had been drinkimg that morning.
This indicates that wine was permitted at that time and was only prohibited
later. And so it is clear that the Banii al-Nadir affair came after the battle of
Uhud. But God knows best.
A further note: the affair relating to the Jews of Banii Qaynuqa' came after
the battle of Badr, as told above. The same applies to the killing of Ka'b b.
al-Ashraf, the Jew, at the hands of Aws.
The Banii &Nadir affair came after the battle of Uhud, as will be told
hereafter. The same is true of the death of Aba %fit, the merchant Jew from
Hija who was killed by Khazraj.
The account relating to the Jews of Bann Qurayza will be given after the
report of the battle of the ahznb - "the clans" - and after that of al-khandaq,
"the trench".
THE BATTLE OF UHUD, IN SHAWWAL, 3 AH.
A supplementary note from the author on the naming of Uhud: Uhud was so
named because of its unique2 distinction among these mountains.
In the jahih collection it states, "Uhud is a mountain that loves us and that
we love. It is said that its name refers to its inhabitants. It is also said that it is
so named to flirm the closeness of one's family on one's return from a trip, as
does a lover. It is also said to mean, 'aln zahrrihi, i.e. 'in a concrete and literal
interpretation', as in God's words, 'some of them tumble down in fear of God'"
@rat al-Baqara; 11, v.74).
In a hadith from Abn 'Abbas b. Jabr, it states, "Uhud loves us and we it; it
stands at the gate of paradise. And it is (like a) wild ass that loathes us as we it.
It stands at one of the gates of hell."
Al-Suhayli commented, in substantiation of this hadith: "It is well established
that the Messenger of God (SAAS) said, 'A man is with whomever he loves."'
Al-Suhayli's comment is strange. For this hadith relates to people and a
mountain could not be referred to as human.
This battle took place in Shawwsl, 3 AH. This is stated by al-Zuh-, Qatada,
Mosa b. Wqba, Muhammad b. Ishsq and Mzlik.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "It occurred in the middle of Shawwal." Qatada said, "It
took place on Saturday, the 1 lth of Shawwd."
Mdik stated, "The battle took place early in the day, and it is commonly
agreed that the reference is to it in the words of the Almighty: '... when you went
forth from your family in the morning to set the believers in their positions
for the battle; and God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. When two groups from
2. The Arabic root ohnd implies the number one and singularity or uniqueness.