The Muslim force, now numbering around seven hundred, is stationed on the slopes of Uhud, facing Medina with the rear being protected by the towering mount itself.
Before the battle, Muhammad had assigned fifty archers on a nearby rocky hill at the West side of the Muslim camp.
This was a strategic decision in order to shield the vulnerable flanks of the outnumbered Muslim army; the archers on the hill are to protect the left flank, while the right flank is to be protected by the Mount of Uhud situated on the east side of the Muslim camp.
Protecting the flanks of the Muslim army means that the Meccan army will not be able to turn around the Muslim camp, and thus the Muslim army won't be surrounded or encircled by the Meccan cavalry, keeping in mind that the Meccan cavalry outnumbers the Muslim cavalry with a 50:1 ratio.
Muhammad orders the Muslim archers to never, under any circumstances, leave their positions on the hill unless ordered to do so by him only.
The Meccan army positions itself facing the Muslim lines, with the main body led by Abu Sufyan, and the left and right flanks commanded by Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl and Khalid ibn al-Walid respectively.
'Amr ibn al-'As is named the commander of cavalry and his task is to coordinate attack between the cavalry wings.
The Meccans attack with their initial charge led by the Medinan exile Abu ‘Amir.
Thwarted by a shower of stones from the Muslims, Abu ‘Amir and his men are forced to retire and tend to the camps behind the Meccan lines.
The Meccan standard-bearer, Talhah ibn Abi Talhah al-‘Abdari, advances and challenges the enemy to a duel.
Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), the young cousin of Muhammad, rushes forth and strikes Talhah down in a single blow.
Talhah's brother, `Uthman, runs forward to pick up the fallen banner—the Meccan women willing him on with songs and the loud beating of timbrels.
Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib emerges from the Muslim ranks, bringing him to a similar fate as Talhah.
It is their family that is responsible for the Meccan army's standard-bearing, and thus one by one, Talhah's brothers and sons go to retrieve the Meccan banner and fight unsuccessfully, until they all eventually perish.
Following the duels, general engagement between the two armies commences.
Meccan confidence quickly begins to dissolve as the Muslims sweep through their ranks.
The Meccan army is pushed back, and repeated attempts by its cavalry to overrun the left Muslim flank are negated by the Muslim archers.
Enjoying the best of these early encounters, the Muslims pierce the Meccan lines, with victory appearing certain.
However, it is the detachment of the Muslim archers, disobeying Muhammad's strict orders to remain stationary, that shifts the outcome of the battle, as they run downhill to join in the advance and despoil the Meccan camp, leaving the flank vulnerable.
At this critical juncture, the Meccan cavalry led by Khalid ibn al-Walid exploits this move and attacks the remaining minority of Muslim archers who had refused to disobey Muhammad's orders and are still positioned on the hill.
From there, the Meccans are then able to target and overrun the Muslim flank and rear.
Confusion ensues, and numerous Muslims are killed.
Most notable among the casualties is Hamza, who had been thrown down in a surprise attack by the javelin of the Ethiopian slave of Hind, Wahshi ibn Harb.
While the Meccan riposte strengthens, rumors circulate that Muhammad too had perished.
It emerges, however, that Muhammad had only been wounded—due to missiles of stone which resulted in a gash on his forehead and lip.
It is recorded that Ali ibn Abi Talib alone remained, fending off the assaults of Khaleed's cavalrymen.
After fierce hand-to-hand combat, most of the Muslims manage to withdraw and regroup higher up on the slopes of Uhud.
A small faction is cut off and tries to make its way back to Medina, though many of these are killed.
The Meccans' chief offensive arm, its cavalry, is unable to ascend the slopes of Uhud in pursuit of the Muslims, and so the fighting ceases.
Hind and her companions are said to have mutilated the Muslim corpses, cutting off their ears and noses and making the relics into anklets.
Hind is reported to have cut open the corpse of Hamza, taking out his liver which she then attempted to eat.
Abu Sufyan, after some brief verbal exchanges with Muhammad's companion, Umar (Umar ibn al-Khattab), decides to return to Mecca without pressing his advantage.
Muhammad and the Muslims bury the dead on the battlefield, returning home that evening.
The battle is generally believed by scholars to be a defeat for the Muslims, as they had incurred greater losses than the Meccans.
The battle is also noted for the emergence of the military leadership and tactical military genius of Khalid ibn al-Walid, who will later become the most famous of all Arab generals during the Islamic expansion era, in conquering the Sassanid Empire and Constantinople-held Syria.
