Battle of the Trench: Reasons, Events, and Benefits

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and engineer. She also studied Sharia (Islamic studies) at Zad Academy (an online course).

In this article, you will learn about the Battle of the Trench (al-khandaq), its causes, events, results, and the lessons learned from it.

Introduction

The Battle of the Trench, also known as the Battle of Al-Ahzab (the Combined forces), is a pivotal event in Islamic history and embodies the steadfastness and unity of the Muslim nation under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the face of a major threat from an alliance of enemies. The Battle of the Trench took place in Shawwal of the fifth year of the Hijrah (the migration of the Prophet Mohammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina). The Quraysh tribe allied with other Arab tribes and the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir to form a large army to besiege the Muslims in Medina. The Banu Nadir had been expelled from Medina by the Muslims in the fourth year of the Hijrah (625 CE) for breaking their treaty with the Muslims. Most of them went to Khaybar and settled there with the Jews.

Did You Know?

The battle took its name from a strategic defensive tactic proposed by the companion Salman al-Farsi (may God be pleased with him), which involved digging a trench around Medina.

Reasons

The revenge of the Banu Nadir Jews against the Muslims.
The elimination of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his companions, and his message.

An illustrative map of the Battle of the Trench. Image source: wikimedia.org

The Events

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, gathered his companions to consult with them on how to confront this danger. The companion Salman al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him, suggested an idea inspired by the Persians’ methods of fighting their enemies, which involved digging a trench north of Medina.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved this idea, and the men were divided into work groups tasked with digging forty cubits of the trench. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) began their great work of digging this trench. Because the time available to the Muslims was very limited, they devoted themselves tirelessly to completing this task.

The trench was 5,544 meters long, approximately 4.62 meters wide, and approximately 3.234 meters deep. The Muslims also constructed a high earthen embankment from the excavated soil and sand above the southern edge of the trench—on the Al Madina city side—thus adding another layer of defense to the city.

When the combined forces’ (Al-Ahzab) armies reached the city’s outskirts, they were surprised to find the trench. They were bewildered and astonished, exclaiming, “This is a stratagem the Arabs have never known before!”

At that time, approximately three thousand Muslim soldiers were lined up on the other side of the trench in their fighting positions to prevent any attempt by the polytheists to cross it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also ordered that the women, children, and elderly who were unable to fight be gathered in a safe place in the center of the city, and he assigned a few hundred men to guard them. In this situation, the Confederate armies had no option but to impose a tight siege around the trench.

The armies of Al Ahzab (Confederate) tried to attack the Muslims several times, but they failed. Therefore, the Banu Nadir Jews tried to persuade the Banu Qurayza Jews to break their treaty with the Muslims and join the confederate armies. The Jews of Banu Nadir had a treaty of good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence with the Muslims in Medina. They actually convinced them to break their covenant with the Muslims, betray them, and join the army of Al Ahzab (Confederates). The Banu Qurayza transformed from peaceful neighbors into hostile enemies of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions! The situation became dire for the Muslims, as they found themselves besieged by two enemies, one in front and one behind them. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

9. O believers! Remember the favor of Allah upon you when [enemy] forces came to [attack] you [in Medina], and We sent against them a [bitter] wind and forces [of angels] you could not see. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.

10. [Remember] when they came at you from above you [the eastern side] and from below you [the west], and when eyes shifted [in horror], and your hearts jumped into your throats, and you entertained [conflicting] thoughts about Allah.

11. There, the believers were tested and shaken with a mighty shaking. “Surah Al-Ahzab (The Combined Forces) 33:9, 10, 11“

During this period of hardship inflicted upon the Muslims and the physical and psychological suffering, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated to his Lord, saying

“O Allah, the Revealer of the Holy Book and the Mover of the clouds and the Defeater of the combined forces (Al Ahzab), defeat them and grant us victory over them.”

Ultimately, victory belonged to the Muslims because of the following:

The unity of the Al-Ahzab (Confederate) army crumbled.
Trust between the tribes vanished.
Allah Almighty sent a fierce wind upon the combined forces, uprooting their tents, sweeping away their equipment, and extinguishing their fires. Panic seized them, and they fled to Mecca.

Benefits

Despite the Muslims being outnumbered by their enemies—the Muslims numbering no more than three thousand against ten thousand allies—the Muslims displayed remarkable unity in faith and purpose. Their cohesion was a source of strength, confirming that victory is not determined by numbers alone but by unity.
The Allies besieged the city for over twenty days. Divine intervention manifested itself in the form of a mighty wind sent by God Almighty, which scattered the enemy forces, thwarted their plans, and granted victory to the Muslims. This served as a powerful reminder that ultimate victory is in God’s hands.
After the Battle of the Trench, the Muslims shifted from a defensive to an offensive posture. This strategic shift demonstrated their adaptability and readiness to evolve, two essential characteristics of the spread of Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) actively took part in the battle, carrying soil with his companions. His gratitude to Allah Almighty for guidance and protection serves as a powerful example of reliance on Allah Almighty in times of hardship.

Sources

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