Jul 16
Battle of the Trench
Sunday 8 Dhul Qidah, 7518
Jul 16
Sunday 8 Dhul Qidah, 7518
The Muslims had enjoyed a miraculous victory at the Battle of Badr, but they faced a crushing defeat at the Battle of Uhud. These two events prompted the Muslims to recognize the need to expand their military power and enhance their knowledge of combat. Their determination and skills in strategic planning were demonstrated during the Battle of the Trench.
The Battle of Trench took place in the fifth year after Hijrah, i.e., the Prophet Mohammad’s (ﷺ) migration to Madinah. It was in the month of Shawwal. The Battle of the Trench took place between a Muslim army of 3,000 under the direction of the Prophet (ﷺ) and a force of 10,000 Quraish commanded by Abu Sufyan.
The Battle of the Trench is also known by many other names. It is often called the Battle of Khandaq (Ghazwa-e-Khandaq) or the Battle of Ditch. ‘Khandaq’ is a long, deep, and defensive trench. It was dug on the battlefield by the Muslims along the northern boundary of Madinah to protect them against the enemy's cavalry archers. This defensive war strategy originated in Persia.
Other names by which the Battle of Trench is recalled are the Battle of Ahzab and the Battle of the Confederates. The word ‘ahzab’ means numerous groups, and these names refer to the alliances of the Jews and other polytheist tribes with the Quraish to eradicate Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) had expelled the Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa from Madinah (624 A.D). Later, he besieged the Jews of the Banu Nadir tribe because of their deceitful schemes and violation of agreements. Subsequently, he (ﷺ) also expelled them from Madinah after they lost in the Battle of Nadir (625 A.D). This shamed and dishonored them and they craved revenge from the Prophet (ﷺ).
As a result, several of their leaders traveled to Khaybar, including Sallam bin Abu Al-Huqayq, Sallam bin Mishkam, and Kinanah bin Ar-Rabi. There, they were treated with great respect, and the locals accepted them as their leaders. Filled with anger and resentment against the Prophet (ﷺ), they started to strategize a huge attack on Madinah to kill the Prophet (ﷺ) and all Muslims and finish Islam once and for all.
The Banu Nadir leaders arrived in Makkah and met with the pagan Quraish. This ill-intentioned meeting resulted in a mutual agreement to plot against the Muslims. Abu Sufyan and other Quraish leaders also sought revenge for their loss in the Battle of Badr and similar incidents where the believers had defeated them. They happily and willingly offered their hand to the Jews as allies.
Following this alliance, the Jews went to the Ghatafan and tempted them with a share of the riches from Khaybar. The locals of Ghatafan also became a part of their army. The Jews then moved throughout the Arabian Peninsula and organized the Banu Ghatafan, Banu Sulaym, the Quraish, and other Arab and Jewish tribes to confront the Muslims in a battle. By unifying all of them on a single platform with a common agenda, they formed a united force. The Banu Nadir even bribed the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza to attack the Muslim army from inside Madinah.
This was an intense conflict for the Muslims. No army as bloodthirsty as this has ever been seen in Arab history. This marked the first time that the disbelievers had come together in a coordinated effort to launch an attack on the Muslims. The total number of the pagan army was 10,000 fighters.
When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) heard that the Jews and the Quraish were conspiring against the Muslims, he gathered his companions to plan a strategy. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) asked everyone for advice. Hazrat Salman Al-Farsi (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) knew far more techniques of warfare than were commonly used in battles in the Peninsula. He recommended that they dig a trench along Madinah’s northern edge since mountains and thick forests protected the other sides.
The Prophet (ﷺ) divided the Muslims into groups of ten and they began digging the trench. According to most references, the trench was dug in six days, just in time to stop the pagan army from entering Madinah and attacking the Muslims. The trench was 5.5km long, 4.5m deep, and 9m wide.
There are many hadith that highlight the difficulties faced by the Muslims while digging the trench. They also demonstrate the perseverance of the Muslims and the belief they had in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His Messenger (ﷺ).
It is narrated by Sahl bin Sa`d (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
“We were with Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in the Trench, and some were digging the trench while we were carrying the earth on our shoulders. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, ‘O Allah! There is no life except the life of the Hereafter, so please forgive the Emigrants and the Ansar.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4098)
A similar hadith is narrated by Anas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
“Al-Muhajirun (i.e. the Emigrants) and the Ansar were digging the trench around Medina and were carrying the earth on their backs while saying, ‘We are those who have given the pledge of allegiance to Muhammad for Islam as long as we live.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said in reply to their saying, ‘O Allah! There is no goodness except the goodness of the Hereafter; so please grant Your Blessing to the Ansar and the Emigrants.’ The people used to bring a handful of barley, and a meal used to be prepared thereof by cooking it with a cooking material (i.e. oil, fat, and butter has a change in color and smell) and it used to be presented to the people (i.e. workers) who were hungry, and it used to stick to their throats and had a nasty smell”. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4100)
An incident during the digging of the trench is narrated by Jabir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
“We were digging (the trench) on the day of Al-Khandaq and we came across a big solid rock. We went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, ‘Here is a rock appearing across the trench.’ He said, ‘I am coming down.’ Then he got up, and a stone was tied to his belly for we had not eaten anything for three days. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) took the spade and struck the big solid rock and it became like sand”. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4101)
Al-Bara (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) was carrying earth on the day of Al-Khandaq till his abdomen was fully covered with dust, and he was saying, ‘By Allah, without Allah, we would not have been guided, neither would we have given in charity, nor would we have prayed. So (O Allah), please send Sakina (i.e. calmness) upon us, and make our feet firm if we meet the enemy as the enemy has rebelled against us, and if they intended affliction, (i.e. want to frighten us and fight against us then we would not flee but withstand them).’ The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his voice saying, ‘Abaina! Abaina! (i.e. would not, we would not)’”. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4104)
The Makkan cavalry arrived very confidently but was abruptly stopped in its advance by the trench. The horses stopped at the edge of the trench because they could not go any further. They planned to seize Madina quickly within hours, but now it seemed to them that this was not feasible. They were utterly baffled by the trench and could not cross it even after many tries.
After thinking for a long time, the Makkan leaders chose to besiege Madinah. They planned to compel the Muslims to surrender through exhaustion. They blocked all escape routes from Madinah and surrounded the Muslims. This siege lasted 20 nights.
Despite Abu Sufyan being the director of operations and leading the whole pagan army, the fighting man of the army was Amr ibn Abd Wudd. He was considered the fiercest warrior of pagan Arabia and Abu Sufyan believed he would clench the victory over the Muslims.
After several days had by without any developments, he grew impatient and decided to take control of Madinah himself. While wandering around, he and three other men discovered a rocky area where the trench wasn't very broad. They urged their horses and managed to jump over the trench into the boundaries of Madinah.
Amr bravely stepped into the Muslim camp and dared the champions of Islam to emerge and battle Amr in the traditional Arabian style of dueling. When his first call received no response, he asked again. Still, he got no reply. His reputation as a warrior was so great that no one in the Muslim camp dared confront him in a contest of strength.
When Amr ibn Abd Wudd challenged the Muslims for the third time, he simultaneously mocked their cowardice and timidity. It was then that Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), the Lion of Islam, stood up and requested the Prophet’s (ﷺ) permission to step out and confront him. Considering the circumstances, the Prophet (ﷺ) was left with no option but to permit his cousin to confront and put an end to the jeers and mockery of Amr ibn Abd Wudd.
Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) wore the combat attire of the Prophet (ﷺ) who himself hung the Dhu'l-Fiqar at his side and prayed for his triumph. Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) always followed a set of principles in every circumstance, whether it was during war or peace. Each time he faced an opponent, he presented them with three choices:
Amr ibn Abd Wudd declined the first and second choices but agreed to the third, delivering a powerful strike with his heavy sword. It cut through Hazrat Ali's (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) shield, helmet, and turban, leaving a deep wound on his forehead. However, Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) remained focused and delivered a counter-strike with the renowned Dhu'l-Fiqar, which was the end of Amr ibn Abd Wudd.
With Amr defeated, the three knights accompanying him turned back and urged their horses to withdraw. Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) allowed them to retreat. This shattered the strength of the Makkan army and was a severe blow to their spirits.
The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for the Muslims to be victorious. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) sent Angels to terrify the disbelievers and turned nature against the pagans. The temperature dropped to zero and a huge dust storm emerged. As the days passed, the harsh winds grew stronger, making survival difficult for the pagan army. The army of the Prophet (ﷺ) took shelter in their homes. Moreover, the pagan army’s battle animals were dying of war wounds.
Disheartened and discouraged, the allies started abandoning the Makkans, initially in ones and twos, and soon after, in hundreds. Now that the confederation was broken, Abu Sufyan was forced to lift the siege and signal his troops to withdraw from Madinah. With their forces scattered, the pagan army faced a huge defeat and Madinah remained safe.
Ibn Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported the Prophet (ﷺ) saying:
“I have been made victorious by As-Saba (i.e., an easterly wind) and the Ad nation was destroyed by Ad-Dabur (i.e., a westerly wind).”
It is narrated by Sulaiman bin Surd (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
“When the clans were driven away, I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, ‘From now onwards we will go to attack them (i.e. the infidels) and they will not come to attack us, but we will go to them’”. (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4110)
As the pagan army retreated, the Banu Qurayza tribe also surrendered unconditionally to the Prophet (ﷺ). They gave the Muslims of Madinah complete control of their neighborhoods and the opportunity to openly preach Islam.
Surah Ahzab, the 33rd Surah of the Holy Quran, mentions the Battle of Trench and is also named after it:
يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اذْكُرُوْا نِعْمَۃَ اللہِ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذْ جَاۗءَتْكُمْ جُنُوْدٌ فَاَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْہِمْ رِيْحًا وَّجُنُوْدًا لَّمْ تَرَوْہَا۰ۭ وَكَانَ اللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرًا۹ۚ
“O you who believe, remember the favors of God to you when an army came against you and We sent a wind against them and forces that you did not see. But God sees all that you do.” (33:9)
اِذْ جَاۗءُوْكُمْ مِّنْ فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ اَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَاِذْ زَاغَتِ الْاَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوْبُ الْحَـنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّوْنَ بِاللہِ الظُّنُوْنَا۱۰
“When they came upon you from above and below you, when the eyes were stupefied with horror, and hearts jumped to the throats, and you made wild suppositions about God.” (33:10)
وَرَدَّ اللہُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِغَيْظِہِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوْا خَيْرًا۰ۭ وَكَفَى اللہُ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ الْقِتَالَ۰ۭ وَكَانَ اللہُ قَوِيًّا عَزِيْزًا۲۵ۚ
“God drove the unbelievers back in their fury, and they gained no advantage. God was sufficient (to help) the believers in the battle. God is all-powerful and all-mighty.” (33:25)
About the people who were hypocrites among the believers, the Quran says:
وَاِذْ يَقُوْلُ الْمُنٰفِقُوْنَ وَالَّذِيْنَ فِيْ قُلُوْبِہِمْ مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللہُ وَرَسُوْلُہٗۗ اِلَّا غُرُوْرًا۱۲
وَاِذْ قَالَتْ طَّاۗىِٕفَۃٌ مِّنْہُمْ يٰۗاَہْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوْا۰ۚ وَيَسْتَاْذِنُ فَرِيْقٌ مِّنْہُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُوْلُوْنَ اِنَّ بُيُوْتَنَا عَوْرَۃٌ۰ۭۛ وَمَا ہِىَ بِعَوْرَۃٍ۰ۚۛ اِنْ يُّرِيْدُوْنَ اِلَّا فِرَارًا۱۳
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْہِمْ مِّنْ اَقْطَارِہَا ثُمَّ سُىِٕلُوا الْفِتْنَۃَ لَاٰتَوْہَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوْا بِہَاۗ اِلَّا يَسِيْرًا۱۴
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوْا عَاہَدُوا اللہَ مِنْ قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّوْنَ الْاَدْبَارَ۰ۭ وَكَانَ عَہْدُ اللہِ مَسْـُٔــوْلًا۱۵
قُلْ لَّنْ يَّنْفَعَكُمُ الْفِرَارُ اِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِّنَ الْمَوْتِ اَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَاِذًا لَّا تُمَـتَّعُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا۱۶
قُلْ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِيْ يَعْصِمُكُمْ مِّنَ اللہِ اِنْ اَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوْۗءًا اَوْ اَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَۃً۰ۭ وَلَا يَجِدُوْنَ لَہُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللہِ وَلِيًّا وَّلَا نَصِيْرًا۱۷
“When the hypocrites and those who were filled with doubt, said: "The promise of God and His Apostle was nothing but deceit. When a section of them said: "O people of Yathrib, there is no place for you here, turn back;" and a section of them asked leave of the Prophet, saying: "Our homes lie exposed," -- while they were not exposed. Their only intention was to run away. If the (enemy) had entered the city from every side and asked them to rise in revolt, they would have done so, and not hesitated but a little; Whereas earlier they had made a promise to God that they would never turn their backs; and a promise made to God is answerable. Say: "Of no gain will be your running away if you run from death or being killed, even then you will enjoy the good things of life but only for a while." Say: "Who will save you from God if He decides to afflict you or show you His mercy?" They will never find a friend or helper apart from God”. (33:12-17)
The strategies and perseverance displayed by the Muslim forces during the Battle of the Trench teach us to always trust in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) no matter what the circumstances. This is known as ‘Tawakul’ and is an extremely important quality because it guarantees the readiness and safeguarding of a person.
Additionally, the leadership and decision-making abilities of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrate the significance of having a strong leader. The victory also teaches us to make essential preparations, think creatively, and put in great effort when we are faced with a crisis. Another significant fact about this battle is that it helped separate the faithful from the unfaithful and the authentic believers from those who were deceiving the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers. It also taught the Muslims the importance of believing in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His plans during difficult times.