The Battle of the Trench [Also Known as the Battle of the Confederates] (Shawwal, 5 A.H.)

Following the Prophet’s migration to Medina, the Jews were not pleased with his arrival; they incited the Quraish and its allies to wage war against him. A Jewish deputation led by Huyai bin Akhtab was sent to Mecca to fulfill this end and promised the Quraish to join them, along with the Jews of the Banu Quraizhah and to give them full support in case of any confrontation with the Muslims in Medina. The Jews then did the same with the tribes of Ghatafan and Banu Asad. The Jewish malicious scheme achieved its end; an army of 10,000 soldiers from the Quraish, Ghatafan and Banu Asad were mobilized to attack Medina. This happened in the month of Shawwal 5 A.H.

On learning about this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) consulted his major Companions on this matter. Some of them preferred to fortify Medina against the attack, rather than going out to encounter the enemy. However, Salman Al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested a military plan which was then unknown to Arabs; it was to dig a trench northwestern Medina, which was the only vulnerable point from which the enemy could penetrate to Medina. Other surroundings of Medina were naturally protected by areas densely cultivated with palm-trees that might hinder the advance of the enemies’ cavalry. It took the Muslims one week to dig the trench. The Prophet (peace be upon him) participated in the works of digging and promised the Muslims in these critical moments that they would conquer Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

The very self-conceited forces of the Confederates marched with an unshakable belief in their victory over Muslims, and were bent on eliminating Muslims totally. Struck by the surprise of the trench that hindered them from advancing to Medina, they stood helpless. Any attempt to cross the trench would mean inevitable annihilation.

However, the situation grew more critical on the part of the Muslims, due to the long-lasted besiege. Then, Nu`aim bin Mas`ud, who had accepted Islam and came along with the Confederates without their knowing of his conversion, proposed to do anything that might help alleviate the distress of the Muslims. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered him to draw a wedge between the Confederates and the Jews of Banu Quraizhah, who had revoked their treaty with the Prophet and promised to fight to the side of the Confederates. Nu`aim could fulfill his mission successfully.

Then Allah sent a violent wind that extracted the tents of the polytheists and put them to a case of disorder and chaos. Abu Sufyan, the commander of the Confederates, seeing there was no avail of staying any more, ordered his army to withdraw. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commented on that withdrawal, saying: “From now on we will be able to invade them, while they will not be able to invade us.”