The Expedition of Hamraʾ al-Asad

On the morning after the wounds of Uhud, the Prophet ﷺ called that none go out with him but those who had fought the day before. The wounded went out, straining after Quraysh, until they reached Hamraʾ al-Asad, and Allah cast terror into the hearts of their enemy.

Word reached the Prophet ﷺ that Quraysh at al-Rawhaʾ were reproaching one another and considering a return to uproot Madinah, so he called the people to pursue the enemy, singling out those who had been at Uhud the day before. The Companions went out with their wounds, straining on, some of them even carried.

Concerning them was revealed: "Those who responded to Allah and the Messenger after injury had struck them — for those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward." Maʿbad al-Khuzaʿi passed by them and went to Abu Sufyan, exaggerating Muhammad's host to him, so Allah cast terror into their hearts and they departed for Makkah.

The Prophet ﷺ stayed at Hamraʾ al-Asad three days, kindling fires that the enemy might see them, then returned to Madinah having restored his army's awe in the morning of a single day after the wounds — an enduring lesson that yesterday's setback does not prevent today's rising.