Al-Bayhaqī said: “The account most commonly accepted by the scholars of the military campaigns is that the Prophet ﷺ was left with seven hundred fighting men.

He also noted: The report most widely transmitted from al-Zuhrī is that only four hundred remained. This was related by Yaʿqūb ibn Sufyān, from Aṣbagh, from Ibn Wahb, from Yūnus, from al-Zuhrī. Through this very chain it is likewise reported that the number was seven hundred—and Allah knows best.

Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah stated: ‘The cavalry of the idolaters was commanded by Khālid ibn al-Walīd. They had one hundred horses, and their banner was carried by Ṭalḥah ibn ʿUthmān. The Muslims, he added, did not possess a single horse.’ He then described the battle, the details of which will be given later, if Allah Most High wills.

Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recounted his vision to his Companions he told them, “If you think it best to remain in Madinah and leave the enemy where they have encamped, then should they stay, they will have chosen the worst lodging; and if they enter the city we shall fight them inside it.” ʿAbd Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl shared the Prophet’s view that they should not go out to confront the enemy.

But some Muslims—those whom Allah later honored with martyrdom at Uhud, together with others who had missed Badr—said, “O Messenger of Allah, lead us out against our foes, so they will not imagine that we have grown fearful or weak.” ʿAbd Allah ibn Ubayy objected: “O Messenger of Allah, do not go out to them. By Allah, whenever we have left the city to meet an enemy we have suffered losses, and whenever an enemy has entered it we have inflicted losses upon him.”

The people pressed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until he went inside and put on his armor; this was on Friday after he had concluded the prayer. That day a man of the Banū al-Najjār named Mālik ibn ʿAmr died, and the Prophet prayed over him. He then came out to the people, who by now regretted their insistence, saying, “We forced the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we should not have done so.”

When he emerged they said, “O Messenger of Allah, if you wish, remain here.” He replied, “It is not fitting for a prophet, once he has put on his armor, to take it off again until Allah has judged between him and his enemy.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ therefore set out with one thousand of his Companions.

Ibn Hishām reports that he appointed Ibn Umm Maktūm to govern Madinah in his absence.

Ibn Isḥāq continues: When the Prophet reached al-Shawṭ, between Madinah and Mount Uhud, ʿAbd Allah ibn Ubayy withdrew with one-third of the men, saying, “He has listened to them and ignored me. People, why should we kill ourselves here?” He returned with those of his tribe who followed him—men of hypocrisy and doubt. ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr ibn Ḥarām al-Salamī, the father of Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allah, pursued them, saying, “My people, fear Allah and do not abandon your people and your Prophet when the enemy is upon them!”

They replied, “Had we believed that fighting would actually occur, we would not leave you; but we do not think there will be any battle.” When they refused to listen and insisted on turning back, he said, “May Allah drive you away, enemies of Allah! Allah will suffice His Prophet without you.”