with the remainder of fighters, the messenger of allâh [pbuh] moved towards the enemy. after the rebellion and withdrawal of the hypocrites, the number of soldiers was reduced to seven hundred only.

the camp of idolaters was situated in such a place that the many roads leading to uhud were almost blocked by them. so the messenger of allâh [pbuh] said to his men: "which man of you can lead us to where the people (i.e. the idolaters) are, along a short track that does not pass by them?" abu khaithama said: "o messenger of allâh [pbuh], i am the man you need." then he chose a short track that led to uhud passing by harrah bani harithah and their farms, leaving the idolaters’ army westwards.

on their way they passed by ha’it (i.e. the field) of marba‘ bin qaizi, who was a blind hypocrite. when marba‘ felt and realized that they were the prophetic army, he started throwing earth at their faces, so they rushed to kill him, but the prophet [pbuh] said:

"do not kill him. he is blind in heart and eyes."

the messenger of allâh [pbuh] went along till climbed down the hillock of uhud at the slope of the valley. he camped there with his army facing madinah while their backs were to the hills of uhud mountain. so the army of the enemy stood a barrier between the muslims and madinah.