Musnad Ahmad 25:750

Sulayman ibn Dawud narrated to me, Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi al-Zinad informed us, from his father, from Ubayd Allah, from Ibn Abbas, that he said: "Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, did not grant victory in any place as He granted it on the day of Uhud." He said: So we denied that. Ibn Abbas said: "Between me and whoever denies that is the Book of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says regarding the day of Uhud: 'And Allah had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them by His permission' [Al Imran: 152]—Ibn Abbas says: 'Al-Hass' means killing—'until when you lost courage' [Al Imran: 152]—up to His saying—'And He has already pardoned you, and Allah is possessor of bounty to the believers' [Al Imran: 152]." He meant by this the archers. That is because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stationed them in a position, then said: "Protect our backs. If you see us being killed, do not help us, and if you see us having taken spoils, do not join us." When the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took spoils and they made the camp of the polytheists permissible, the archers all rushed down and entered the camp looting. The ranks of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had met, and they were like this—and he interlaced his fingers—and they became intermingled. When the archers vacated that gap they were in, the cavalry entered from that position upon the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Some of them struck others, and they became intermingled, and many people from the Muslims were killed. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his companions had the upper hand at the beginning of the day, until seven or nine of the standard-bearers of the polytheists were killed. The Muslims made a turn toward the mountain, and they did not reach where people say is the cave; they were only under the Al-Mihras. The devil shouted: "Muhammad has been killed!" So we did not doubt that it was the truth. We remained like that, not doubting that he had been killed, until the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, appeared between the two hills; we recognized him by his swaying when he walked. He said: So we rejoiced as if what had afflicted us had not afflicted us. He said: He climbed toward us, saying: "The anger of Allah is intense against a people who caused the face of His Messenger to bleed." He said: And he would say another time: "O Allah, it is not for them to overcome us," until he reached us. He remained for a while, and then Abu Sufyan was shouting at the bottom of the mountain: "Rise, Hubal"—twice, meaning his idols—"Where is Ibn Abi Kabsha? Where is Ibn Abi Quhafa? Where is Ibn al-Khattab?" Umar said: "O Messenger of Allah, shall I not answer him?" He said: "Yes." When he said: "Rise, Hubal," Umar said: "Allah is Higher and More Majestic." Abu Sufyan said: "O Ibn al-Khattab, it has been refreshed," or he said something similar. Then he said: "Where is Ibn Abi Kabsha? Where is Ibn Abi Quhafa? Where is Ibn al-Khattab?" Umar said: "This is the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, this is Abu Bakr, and here I am, Umar." Abu Sufyan said: "A day for a day at Badr; the days alternate, and war is like a bucket." Umar said: "They are not equal. Our dead are in Paradise, and your dead are in the Fire." He said: "You claim that? Then we have indeed failed and lost." Then Abu Sufyan said: "Know that you will find among your dead mutilation, and that was not by the opinion of our leaders." He said: Then the zeal of ignorance overcame him, and he said: "Know that it did happen, and we did not dislike it."