<P> A group of approximately 1,000 Muslim men set out on late Friday from Medina and managed to circle around the Meccan forces . Early the next morning, they took a position on the lower slopes of the hill of Uhud . Shortly before the battle commenced,' Abd - Allah ibn Ubayy (the chief of the Khazraj tribe) and his followers withdrew their support for Muhammad and returned to Medina, with reports suggesting Ibn Ubayy's discontent with the plan to march out from Medina to meet the Meccans . Ibn Ubayy and his followers would later receive censure in the Qur'an for this act . </P> <P> What ye suffered on the day the two armies Met, was with the leave of Allah, in order that He might test the believers, - And the Hypocrites also . These were told: "Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (The foe from your city)." They said: "Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you ." They were that day nearer to Unbelief than to Faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts but Allah hath full knowledge of all they conceal . (They are) the ones that say, (of their brethren slain), while they themselves sit (at ease): "If only they had listened to us they would not have been slain ." Say: "Avert death from your own selves, if ye speak the truth ." </P> <P> The Muslim force, now numbering around 700, was stationed on the slopes of Uhud, facing Medina with the rear being protected by the towering mount itself . Before the battle, Muhammad had assigned 50 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 were to protect the left flank, while the right flank was to be protected by the Mount of Uhud situated on the east side of the Muslim camp . Protecting the flanks of the Muslim army meant that the Meccan army would not be able to turn around the Muslim camp, and thus the Muslim army wouldn't be surrounded or encircled by the Meccan cavalry, keeping in mind that the Meccan cavalry outnumbered the Muslim cavalry with a 50: 1 ratio . </P> <P> Muhammad ordered the Muslim archers to never under any circumstances leave their positions on the hill unless ordered to do so by him only, he made this order very clear by uttering these words to the archers, "If you saw us prevail and start to take spoils, do not come to assist us . And if you saw us get vanquished and birds eat from our heads, do not come to assist us ." </P>

Who ran away from the battle of uhud