After the duels, the battle began. It appeared that the happening of events at the beginning of battle were going the same way as the Rasool ﷺ had imagined. The charge of Hazrat Ali , Hazrat Hamza and Hazrat Abu Dujana (R.A) spread panic and consternation in the ranks of enemy and they began to waver. The unsteadiness and the confusion of the army of Makkah had become very much visible and the Muslims assumed that they had already won a victory.
This manoeuver was seen by the archers who had been posted by the Rasool ﷺ at the strategic pass. They also thought that the enemy had already been beaten, and was in retreat. They left their post and made a tactical mistake to descend into the plain below against the express orders of the Rasool ﷺ. Their captain, Abdullah ibn Jubair, adjured them not to abandon the pass but they paid no heed and swept into the valley and started collecting Mal-e-Ghanimat. Khalid Bin al-Waleed (R.A), who had not yet converted to Islam, noticed that the strategic pass to the left of the army of Muslims was unguarded. He immediately seized the opportunity to attack the handful of the pickets, still at the pass, with his cavalry. The pickets fought bravely but all of them including Abdullah ibn Jubair were overpowered and martyred. Khalid ibn al-Waleed (R.A) captured the pass and attacked the army of the Muslims from the rear.
The Muslim army was busy in gathering Mal-e-Ghanimat, utterly oblivious of everything else. Suddenly they were startled by the charge of enemy's cavalry in rear. Abu Sufyan also noticed the manoeuver of Khalid and the bewilderment of Muslims. He rallied his troops, returned to the scene of action and launched a frontal attack upon them. The Muslims found themselves caught in a pincer movement of the enemy, and they panicked. In a short time the tables were turned on them and victory was wrenched out of their hands.
Question 1: How did the initial events of the battle unfold according to the expectations of the Rasool ﷺ?
Answer: The charge of Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Hamza, and Hazrat Abu Dujana (R.A) spread panic and consternation among the enemy ranks, causing them to waver, which aligned with the Rasool's ﷺ expectations.
Question 2: What mistake did the archers posted at the strategic pass make during the battle?
Answer: The archers, believing that the enemy was already beaten and in retreat, left their post against the express orders of the Rasool, descending into the plain below.
Question 3: How did Khalid Bin al-Waleed (R.A) take advantage of the situation created by the archers' mistake?
Answer: Khalid Bin al-Waleed (R.A) noticed the unguarded strategic pass to the left of the Muslim army and seized the opportunity to attack the pickets at the pass with his cavalry, overpowering them and capturing the pass.
Question 4: What was the reaction of the Muslim army when they realized the enemy's cavalry was charging from the rear?
Answer: The Muslim army, busy gathering Mal-e-Ghanimat and unaware of the enemy's approach, was startled by the charge of the enemy's cavalry from the rear.
Question 5: How did Abu Sufyan respond to Khalid's maneuver and the Muslims' bewilderment?
Answer: Abu Sufyan rallied his troops, returned to the scene, and launched a frontal attack upon the Muslims, taking advantage of their bewilderment and the situation created by Khalid's maneuver.
Question 6: What was the outcome of the battle for the Muslim army?
Answer: The Muslim army found themselves caught in a pincer movement of the enemy, leading to panic among them, and ultimately resulting in the enemy wrenching victory out of their hands.
