Plight of the encircled Muslims

When the Muslims saw themselves surrounded, they were overtaken by panic and disorder and failed to chalk out a cohesive plan. Some of them escaped to the south and reached Madinah, while others fled toward the mountain pass and took refuge in a camp. Some of them ran toward the Prophet to protect him from the onslaught of the enemies, as has already been mentioned. Even as the majority of Muslims stood their ground, their efforts were ineffectual simply because they were disorganised.

Disorder prevailed in the Muslim ranks so much so that the first row collided with the rear row. The result was that Yaman, the father of Hudhayfah, was killed at the hands of the Muslims themselves. Once the rumour of the Prophet’s death filtered in, their morale plummeted even lower. Grief stricken and lost, some of them simply abandoned the field, while others were infused with resolve and rallied saying, “Come, let us die for what the Prophet gave his life.”

The crisis receded only when Ka’b bin Malik caught a glimpse of the Prophet , making his way to join the besieged Muslims. Ka’b recognised the Prophet’s eyes although his face was covered with the helmet. He cried loudly, “O Muslims, rejoice! Here is the Prophet.”

Ka’b’s words galvanised the remaining Muslims, and they streamed to the Prophet’s side. Within a short time thirty companies assembled around him. The Prophet decided against further combat, prudently choosing retreat. He made his way through the rows and successfully led his troops towards the mountain pass. The pagans lost two of their soldiers in a fruitless effort to stop them.

By retreating, the Prophet managed to save his army from further losses, losses that had come about from simple disobedience of his orders. Disobedience had changed the Muslim victory into catastrophe, but with Allah’s help the Muslims were pulled back from the precipice.