God, the Almighty, says in the Holy Qur’an:

{Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter.}

This verse, and the verses that follow, refer to the Battle of Uhud. After suffering a heavy defeat at the Battle of Badr, in which they faced significant losses, the disbelievers sought revenge. Three years later, they again gathered for war and marched a force of soldiers approximately four hundred kilometers toward Medina, reaching the vicinity of Mount Uhud. The Muslim forces met them at the foothills of the mountain. Uhud is a mountain located a few kilometers from Medina; it is not very high compared to neighboring mountains.

The two armies lined up at the foot of the mountain. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stationed a group of archers along the slopes to ensure that the Muslims would not be surprised from behind. He instructed them to stay in their positions no matter the outcome of the battle, whether victory or defeat, and not to move until explicitly ordered. This precaution was meant to prevent a sudden attack from the rear.

The battle began, and heavy fighting ensued. Casualties occurred on both sides. Ultimately, the Prophet’s army gained the upper hand. Many of the disbelievers were killed, and the remainder fled to Mecca, leaving their weapons behind.

Near the end of the battle, some Muslim archers who had been stationed on the mountain slope saw victory in sight. They descended from their positions to gather spoils of war. Their commander reminded them of the Prophet’s instructions: even in victory, they must not leave their posts. However, some of the Muslims—who were in fact hypocrites—ignored his instructions and abandoned their positions. Regarding them, God said: {Among you are some who desire this world.} These individuals, seeking worldly gains, disobeyed the Prophet and pursued the spoils.

Meanwhile, others who remained obedient to the Prophet’s command stayed in position, prioritizing the Hereafter over worldly gain. God described them: {And among you are some who desire the Hereafter.} These followers of the Prophet’s command, including the commander of the archers and a few others who followed him, represent the group seeking the Hereafter.

The fleeing disbelievers on horseback observed the Muslims descending from the mountain to gather spoils and seized the opportunity. They circled around the mountain and attacked the Muslims from the rear. Those who had abandoned their positions in pursuit of worldly gain became easy targets. A fierce battle ensued, during which many Muslims were martyred. Historical accounts and Qur’anic exegeses record that up to seventy Muslims were killed in the Battle of Uhud, with many more wounded. Among the wounded was the Prophet Muhammad himself, who was struck by a large stone to the lips, breaking his four front teeth.

Another stone struck the blessed forehead of the Prophet, causing a gash and damaging some of the bones. A great deal of blood flowed from his head.

By the grace of God and with the valor of the Muslim fighters, the Muslims ultimately gained the upper hand in this fierce battle and forced the disbelievers to retreat. Were it not for God’s support and the bravery of some of the Muslims, the enemy might have wiped out the followers of Islam entirely. However, by God’s mercy, despite the grave treachery of the archers who abandoned their posts against the Prophet’s instructions, the Muslims stood courageously against the enemy.

Once the battle subsided, the Muslims attended to the deceased and treated the wounded. During this time, Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) tended to her father’s wounds. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) brought water, which Lady Fatimah poured over the Prophet’s head and forehead while cleaning his injuries. However, no matter how much they washed the wounds, the bleeding did not stop. The gash on his forehead was deep, and several veins had been severely damaged, causing continuous bleeding.

Historical and exegetical texts have not ignored this tragic event, describing in detail the Prophet’s suffering. It is reported that Lady Fatimah, using the methods available at that time for dressing wounds, slightly burned a piece of matting and sprinkled its ashes over her father’s wounds. All of these injuries and casualties were a result of the betrayal of the archers who abandoned their posts. In every culture, a traitor in battle is condemned and punished, often by death.

However, the behavior of the Prophet (peace be upon him) toward the traitors was different and instructive. All of the Prophet’s rulings come from God. Therefore, the wisdom and basis for all of his decisions and actions were to seek the pleasure of God Almighty.

Contrary to what might have been expected, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not punish any of the traitors of the Battle of Uhud, neither at the time nor afterward. As mentioned, in most societies and even in modern times, battlefield treachery is usually punished immediately. Today, in many countries, a soldier who betrays his post in battle may face execution on the spot.

Yet the Prophet (peace be upon him), contrary to this common rule, refrained from punishing the traitors, allowing them to return to Medina and continue living among the Muslims.

The secret to the enduring legacy of the Prophet and the survival of Islam lies in his conduct. His mercy, knowledge, justice, and every other virtue that distinguished him from others ensured the growth and continuity of his Sharia. Even today, despite numerous internal and external conflicts—including wars between governments, conflicts with their own populations, and other negative features—Islamic countries remain centers of rich cultural and religious development.

The reason for this flourishing and expansion is the wisdom and policy of the Prophet (peace be upon him), a policy rooted in ethics, virtue, mercy, and humanity. Islam continues to grow worldwide, and people turn to it despite the many challenges faced by Islamic nations. Notably, the Prophet never initiated a war; all of his military actions were defensive.

This is a crucial point that young people should study and research. They could present their findings in books or other formats for the benefit of the world. The late esteemed scholar Sheikh Jawad Balaghi, in his two valuable works Al-Rihla al-Majlisiya and Al-Huda ila Din al-Mustafa, provides detailed accounts of each of the Prophet’s battles and examines the reasons for their occurrence, presenting historical evidence that demonstrates that all of the Prophet’s battles were defensive in nature.

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) never initiated a war; rather, others always ignited the flames of conflict against him, and he responded to aid the Muslims, engaging in defense. Defensive wars are also a characteristic of ethical and virtuous humans. In the history of divine religions and laws—considering the principle “We make no distinction between any of His messengers” (Quran 2:285)—all prophets sent by God share this characteristic.

The conduct of the Prophet (peace be upon him) reflects the mercy and method of God, manifesting in his words and actions. Thus, the wisdom, virtue, and mercy of the Prophet all originate from God—the Blessed and Exalted—while the Prophet (peace be upon him) merely embodied them. This is why the Qur’an states about him:

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow” (Quran 33:21).

The term “example” (uswah) means a model or guide, and naturally, it is not limited to acts of worship such as prayer, pilgrimage, or fasting alone. The Prophet (peace be upon him) serves as a guide from God in all areas, including political affairs. For instance, the Prophet never initiated a war. Muslims, if faithful to their religion and its values, must follow the Prophet in all aspects and never ignite the flames of conflict. Of course, defense is fundamentally different from aggression.

It is the right—and indeed the merit and virtue—of Muslims not to tolerate oppression and transgression. They are obliged to stand courageously against invading enemies, even to the point of sacrificing their lives. Defending fellow Muslims, their land, honor, property, and the dignity of Islam is an indispensable duty, which Muslims have always fulfilled by following the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the infallible Imams.

On the other hand, today’s world is far removed from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) method. It can be confidently stated that nowhere in the contemporary world is there political behavior resembling that of the Prophet, nor is there leniency toward war-time betrayal. Even Western countries, which claim a degree of freedom, do not overlook those who betray in times of war.

Only our Prophet exercised restraint and magnanimity, forgiving the transgressors of the Battle of Uhud, despite the fact that Muslims suffered immense harm from their betrayal. The Prophet himself endured severe injuries and wounds in the process.

Recently, news was published regarding the betrayal of an individual in a non-Islamic country. This person, accused of endangering the security of that nation through their treachery, was imprisoned and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In any case, the Qur’an regards the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a noble and exemplary model worthy of emulation for humanity. Therefore, the best and most successful form of governance can be found in the life and conduct of that great personality. World leaders, in order to ensure the success and well-being of their nations, have no choice but to draw lessons from the Prophet’s method of governance. They must study the political, economic, and social strategies he implemented during his rule and apply them diligently. This is the only path to overcome the numerous and exhausting problems that afflict every nation to some degree. Conflicts between governments, the mistreatment of citizens by rulers, and many other issues can be resolved by following his example.

Today, even Islamic countries—which claim to follow the sound governance of the Prophet (peace be upon him)—face afflictions such as imprisonment, torture, insecurity, bloodshed, and countless other exhausting problems. These issues exist solely because they have strayed from the example and methodology of the Noble Messenger.

Here, I call upon all the people of the world to follow the clear and luminous example of the Noble Messenger of God (peace be upon him) and to learn everything from him and his life. The words and actions of the Prophet provide a healing guide for the afflicted life of today’s humanity.

It is my hope that God grants us the ability to learn from the Messenger of God, to emulate him, and to follow his words, deeds, and guidance.

Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure Ahlul Bayt.