Mobilization of the Muslim Army for Uhud

Once the decision had settled on going out to meet the polytheists outside Medina, the Prophet led the people in the Friday prayer, exhorting them to earnestness and effort and promising them victory as long as they remained steadfast. ¹ After the afternoon prayer, with the people of al-Awali present, the Prophet ﷺ armed himself: he put on two coats of mail, one over the other, girded on his sword, and then went out to his Companions. ¹

The departure saw a moment of regret among some of the Companions who had pressed for going out. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh and Usayd ibn Hudayr (may God be pleased with him) said to those who had urged the Prophet: "You forced the Messenger of God to go out," and they tried to take back their view. The Prophet insisted on going forward, saying: "It is not fitting for a prophet, when he has put on his war-gear, which is the coat of mail, to take it off until God judges between him and his enemy." ¹

The Prophet divided the army, which numbered a thousand fighters, into three battalions:

1. The battalion of the Muhajirun: its banner given to Mus'ab ibn Umayr al-Abdari. ¹
2. The battalion of the Aws: its banner given to Usayd ibn Hudayr. ¹
3. The battalion of the Khazraj: its banner given to al-Hubab ibn al-Mundhir (may God be pleased with him). ¹

The army had a hundred men in mail and fifty horsemen. The Prophet had Ibn Umm Maktum lead the prayer in Medina in the army's absence. ¹ On reaching the station of al-Shaykhan, the Prophet reviewed the army. He sent back those he judged unable to fight because of their youth, among them Abdullah ibn Umar and Usama ibn Zayd (may God be pleased with him). He permitted Rafi' ibn Khadij, for his skill in archery, and Samura ibn Jundub, after he proved his strength in a wrestling bout with Rafi'. ¹