A CONSULTANT ASSEMBLY FOR A DEFENCE PLAN:
The scouting party of Madinah conveyed the news of the Makkan army step by step. Then the
Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) held a head military consultation assembly to exchange views  about the situation. He told them about a dream he had. He said: “By Allâh, I have dreamt of — I  implore Allâh to be a dream of bounty — cows slaughtered and that there was a groove at the pointed  top of my sword, and that I had inserted my hand into an immune armour.”
The interpretation of ‘the cows’ was that some of his men were killed, and ‘the groove at the pointed  top of his sword’ was that a member of his House would be hurt. As for ‘the armour’ it was Madinah.
Then he offered a suggestion that his Companions should not go out of Madinah and that they should  encamp themselves within the city. He was of the opinion that the enemies should be left in the open  to  exhaust themselves and thus the Muslims would not risk a battle. But if they thought of attacking
Madinah, Muslim men would be ready to fight them at the mouths of lanes; whereas Muslim-women  would help from over the house roofs.” ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul — the head of the hypocrites; who  attended the meeting as a chief of Al-Khazraj — supported the Prophet ’s plan.
As a matter of fact his agreement was not based on the righteousness of the plan but rather on  personal benefit. He did not want to fight. On the contrary he secretly aimed at being far away from  fight. However it was Allâh’s Will that he should be disclosed and disgraced in public — for the first  time. It was His Will that the curtain which concealed their disbelief behind should be uncovered and  pulled down. Allâh’s Will enabled the Muslims to recognize the reality of those snakes that were  creeping within their garments and inside the sleeves of their clothes. Thanks to Allâh they recognized  them in one of the most critical times of their lives.
Some of the best honourable Companions, who had missed Al-Jihâd in Badr invasion, suggested that  the Prophet (Peace be upon him) should go out of Madinah and urged him to accept their point of  view.
One of them said: “O, Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), for long time we have been looking  forward to this day; and we have implored Allâh to make such a day draw near. Thanks to Allâh it is  time to fight. So let us go out and fight our enemies lest they should think that we have lost heart and  do not dare to fight them.” Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib the paternal uncle of the Prophet (Peace be upon  him), who had already covered the ornaments of his sword with idolaters’ blood in Badr Battle, was  ahead of those enthusiastics who urged him to go out and meet the disbelievers. He said to the
Prophet
(Peace be upon him): “By Allâh, Who has sent the Book down unto you, I will not taste food till I fight  them with my sword outside Madinah.”
After weighing carefull the pros and cons of the issue, it was decided that the enemy should be  resisted  outside the city at Uhud.
DIVIDING THE ISLAMIC ARMY INTO PHALANXES DEPARTURE TO THE BATTLE-FIELD:
Ascending the pulpit at the Friday congregational prayer, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) urged the  people in his sermon to fight courageously. “If you remain steadfast,” he said “you will be helped by  the
Power of the All- Mighty.” Then he commanded his men to make ready for the battle. Most of them  rejoiced greatly.
He led the afternoon prwith crowds of people. Then he entered his house accompanied by his two  friends Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. They helped him dress and wear his headcloth. He armed himself and  wore two armours one over the other. He wore his sword and went out to meet people.
People were waiting for him impatiently. Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh and Usaid bin Hudair blamed people for  pressing on the Prophet (Peace be upon him). They said: “You have forced the Messenger of Allâh
(Peace be upon him) to fight the enemy outside Madinah.” Therefore they were determined to leave  the  whole matter to the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and blamed themselves for what they had already  done. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) came out, they said: “O Messenger of Allâh, we should  have not disagreed with you. So, you are free to do what you desire. If you prefer to stay inside
Madinah we will stay with you. Upon this the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) remarked: “It  does not become a Prophet that once he had put on armour, he should take it off, until Allâh has  decided between him and the enemy.”
THE PROPHET (Peace be upon him) DIVIDED HIS ARMY INTO THREE BATTALIONS:
1. Al-Muhajireen battalion, under the command of Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair Al-‘Abdari.
2. Al-Ansari-Aws battalion was commanded by Usaid bin Hudair.