I was only a teenager when it happened, just beginning to understand the seriousness of our struggle. I was not counted among the honored Companions whose names you learn in books. But I was there—on the edge of the crowd—watching, listening, trying to understand everything the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us.
It was the day before the Battle of Uhud.
Uhud was the name of the mountain just outside Medina, the city that had become our home after Muslims fled persecution in Mecca. Now, the Quraysh—powerful leaders from Mecca—were marching toward us with a large army. They wanted revenge for their loss at the Battle of Badr.
Tension was in every face I saw. Some of the older Companions, like Abdullah ibn Ubayy, wanted us to stay inside the city and defend it from there. But the younger men—especially some who had missed the earlier battle—wanted to fight outside the city walls. They believed that was braver and more honorable.
Then I saw him. The Prophet ﷺ.
Even though I was standing far back, I caught glimpses of him through the crowd. He was dressed in his simple clothes, his face calm but focused. What amazed me that day was what he did next. Even though he was the Messenger of Allah, a man who received divine revelation, he didn’t just declare the plan on his own. He called the Companions to consult with them.
This practice is called shura—consultation. The Qur’an commands it in Surah Ash-Shura (Chapter 42, Verse 38), saying believers are “those who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation.”
The Prophet ﷺ listened carefully. He let each opinion be heard. He nodded, asked questions, and considered every view—even those he may not have agreed with at first.
I remembered later how someone had said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had originally leaned toward staying in the city. But when the majority preferred going out to fight at Uhud, he accepted that decision, even though it would be harder.
That taught me something I never forgot: leadership in Islam is not about control. It’s about trust, patience, and humility. It’s about asking for advice, not because you don’t know—but because Allah has placed wisdom in many hearts.
The next day, in the heat of battle, we lost many brave believers. Many lessons came from that tragic day. But the shura remained one of the most powerful.
I realized I didn’t want to just be a boy on the edge of the crowd anymore. I wanted to become someone my Prophet would trust to give advice. I wanted to grow up with that honesty, courage, and care for others.
Because that’s what he showed us: even the best of mankind listened to others. And through that, Allah taught all of us what true strength looks like.
Story note: Inspired by the practice of consultation in Islamic leadership, as demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the eve of the Battle of Uhud (referenced in Seerah accounts and Qur’an 42:38).
I was only a teenager when it happened, just beginning to understand the seriousness of our struggle. I was not counted among the honored Companions whose names you learn in books. But I was there—on the edge of the crowd—watching, listening, trying to understand everything the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us.
It was the day before the Battle of Uhud.
Uhud was the name of the mountain just outside Medina, the city that had become our home after Muslims fled persecution in Mecca. Now, the Quraysh—powerful leaders from Mecca—were marching toward us with a large army. They wanted revenge for their loss at the Battle of Badr.
Tension was in every face I saw. Some of the older Companions, like Abdullah ibn Ubayy, wanted us to stay inside the city and defend it from there. But the younger men—especially some who had missed the earlier battle—wanted to fight outside the city walls. They believed that was braver and more honorable.
Then I saw him. The Prophet ﷺ.
Even though I was standing far back, I caught glimpses of him through the crowd. He was dressed in his simple clothes, his face calm but focused. What amazed me that day was what he did next. Even though he was the Messenger of Allah, a man who received divine revelation, he didn’t just declare the plan on his own. He called the Companions to consult with them.
This practice is called shura—consultation. The Qur’an commands it in Surah Ash-Shura (Chapter 42, Verse 38), saying believers are “those who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation.”
The Prophet ﷺ listened carefully. He let each opinion be heard. He nodded, asked questions, and considered every view—even those he may not have agreed with at first.
I remembered later how someone had said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had originally leaned toward staying in the city. But when the majority preferred going out to fight at Uhud, he accepted that decision, even though it would be harder.
That taught me something I never forgot: leadership in Islam is not about control. It’s about trust, patience, and humility. It’s about asking for advice, not because you don’t know—but because Allah has placed wisdom in many hearts.
The next day, in the heat of battle, we lost many brave believers. Many lessons came from that tragic day. But the shura remained one of the most powerful.
I realized I didn’t want to just be a boy on the edge of the crowd anymore. I wanted to become someone my Prophet would trust to give advice. I wanted to grow up with that honesty, courage, and care for others.
Because that’s what he showed us: even the best of mankind listened to others. And through that, Allah taught all of us what true strength looks like.
Story note: Inspired by the practice of consultation in Islamic leadership, as demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the eve of the Battle of Uhud (referenced in Seerah accounts and Qur’an 42:38).
