Uhud.
A mountain that loves us and we love it. Why?
The Prophet ﷺ said, "This is a mountain that loves us, and we love it" (هَذَا جَبَلٌ يُحِبُّنَا وَنُحِبُّهُ). (Narrated by Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه in Sahih al-Bukhari.)
We know of the heart-breaking battle that took place here, where the Prophet ﷺ was heavily injured, his beloved uncle, Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib رضي الله عنه became a martyr and his body was mutilated. The battle ensued in utter chaos, so much so that many of the Companions thought the Prophet ﷺ had been killed. Mus'ab ibn Umayr رضي الله عنه, who was sent as a dā'ī to Madinah before the Hijrah, also fell as a martyr and did not even have enough cloth to cover his body before he was buried.
Ponder over this.
And picture this too.
Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ was climbing Mount Uhud with Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه and Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه when it began to quake because of them. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Be still, Uhud! It is but a Prophet, a truthful man, and two martyrs upon you."
(Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, 3675)
Uhud holds an important place for Muslims. We visit it, we remember the Battle of Uhud and we pay our respects to the martyrs.
Yet today, as is the case with many parts of Madinah, everything is becoming "Instagrammable" or, for a more academic word, commodified. Every place in Madinah that holds significance for Muslims is slowly being commercialised.
Look at Uhud. You now have to pay to step onto Jabal Rumah, more commonly known as the Archers' Hill. Then there is the GMC ride experience that takes you up the mountain of Uhud, where you are met with your favourite coffee, scenic viewpoints and an experience designed for more likes, reels and social media posts.
What have we become?
And why do we encourage this by engaging in the very commodification of places that are sacred to us?
Years ago, people went for Hajj and 'Umrah with their life savings, with a yearning in their hearts, tears in their eyes and a resolve to fulfil the journey of a lifetime.
Many people live in Madinah hoping to die in Madinah. They long to be neighbours of the Prophet ﷺ.
I sometimes wonder whether we are beginning to lose sight of why we came in the first place.
We don't visit Uhud because it is picturesque.
We don't visit Uhud because it makes for a good photograph.
We visit Uhud because it loves us, and we love it.
Perhaps that is the question we should ask ourselves whenever we stand before Uhud:
Do we love Uhud because it loves us, or because it looks good in a photograph?
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