The Battle of the Trench or Battle of the Ditch (Arabic غزوة الخندق), also known as or Battle of Confederates (Arabic غزوة الاحزاب) was an attack by the non-Muslim Ahzab (confederate armies) on the city of Medina in 627. The name "Battle of the Trench" refers to the trench that the Muslim defenders of Medina dug north of the city. Due to this trench, and the natural fortifications of Medina on other sides, the attacking Ahzab were unable to overcome Medina's Muslim defenders. Most of the Ahzab withdrew, resulting a victory for the Muslim defenders of Medina. The Qur'an chronicles this war in the Qur'anic verses ^{[Qur'an 33:9]}. The Battle of the Trench was an early example of trench warfare. There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Quraish (sura) is also the name of a Surah in the Quran. ... Image File history File links Khundaq1. ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... “Era Vulgaris” redirects here. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... Muhammad, viewed by Muslims as the last prophet of Islam, was, amongst other things, a military leader during the last ten years of his life. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Muhammad, viewed by Muslims as the last prophet of Islam, was, amongst other things, a military leader during the last ten years of his life. ... Combatants Muslims of Medina Quraish of Mecca Commanders Muhammad, Hamza, Ali Amr ibn Hishām† Strength 300-350 <900-1000 Casualties ~70 killed 40-70 captured 14 killed The Battle of Badr (Arabic: ), fought March 17, 624 CE (17 Ramadan 2 AH in the Islamic calendar) in the Hejaz of... The Banu Qaynuqa (also spelled Banu Kainuka, Banu Kaynuka, Banu Qainuqa, Arabic: ) were one of the three main Jewish tribes living in the 7th century of Medina, now in Saudi Arabia. ... Combatants Muslims Quraysh-led Coalition Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan Strength 700 3,000 Casualties 70 dead 22 The Battle of Uhud was fought on 23 March, 625, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is now north-western Arabia, and a force from Mecca, the... Banu Nadir (Arabic: ‎) were one of the three main Jewish tribes living in the 7th century of Medina, now in Saudi Arabia. ... The massacre of the Banu Qurayza. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Combatants Muslim army Jews of Khaybar oasis Commanders Muhammad  ? Strength 1,600  ? Casualties 16  ? The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part... Combatants Muslim Arabs Eastern Roman Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Zayd ibn Harithah † Jafar ibn Abu Talib † Abdullah ibn Rawahah † Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Theodorus Shurahbil ibn Amr al-Ghassani Strength 3,000 (Ibn Qayyim)[4][5] 3,000 (Ibn Hajar)[6][5] 100,000 according to Muslim sources... Combatants Muslims Quraish Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Strength 10,000 unknown Casualties 0 0 Mecca was conquered by the Muslims on the 10th day of Ramadan in the year 630 January AD ( 8 AH) [1] . In 628 the Meccan tribe of Quraish and the Muslim community in Medina... The Battle of Hunayn is the name of a battle where the prophet Muhammad participiated in the year 630 CE. Categories: Military stubs | Islam-related stubs ... The Battle of Autas or Auras was an early battle involving Muslim forces, fought in the year 630. ... The Siege of Taif took place in 630 CE, as the Muslims besieged the city of Taif after their victory in the Battle of Hunayn. ... The Battle of Tabouk (also called the Battle of Tabuk) is said to have taken place in October AD 630. ... Khālid ibn al-WalÄ«d (592-642) (Arabic: خالد بن الوليد) also known as Sayf-Allah al-Maslul (the Drawn Sword of God or Sword of Allah), was one of the two famous Arab generals during the Muslim conquests of the 7th Century. ... The Arabian Peninsula Emirets towers in United Arab Emirates; the eastern part of Arabian Penisula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية, or جزيرة العرب) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ... Combatants Muslims Quraysh-led Coalition Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan Strength 700 3,000 Casualties 70 dead 22 The Battle of Uhud was fought on 23 March, 625, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is now north-western Arabia, and a force from Mecca, the... Combatants Muslim Arabs Eastern Roman Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Zayd ibn Harithah † Jafar ibn Abu Talib † Abdullah ibn Rawahah † Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Theodorus Shurahbil ibn Amr al-Ghassani Strength 3,000 (Ibn Qayyim)[4][5] 3,000 (Ibn Hajar)[6][5] 100,000 according to Muslim sources... Combatants Muslims Quraish Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Strength 10,000 unknown Casualties 0 0 Mecca was conquered by the Muslims on the 10th day of Ramadan in the year 630 January AD ( 8 AH) [1] . In 628 the Meccan tribe of Quraish and the Muslim community in Medina... The Battle of Hunayn is the name of a battle where the prophet Muhammad participiated in the year 630 CE. Categories: Military stubs | Islam-related stubs ... The Siege of Taif took place in 630 CE, as the Muslims besieged the city of Taif after their victory in the Battle of Hunayn. ... The Ridda wars (also known as the Riddah wars and the Wars of Apostasy) were a set of military campaigns against apostasy and rebellion against the Caliph Abu Bakr during 632 and 633 AD, following the death of Muhammad(S). ... Combatants Muslims Rebel Apostates Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid MusailimaThe lair Strength 13,000 40,000 Casualties 1200 21,000 The Battle of Yamama was fought in December 632 A.C in the plain of Aqraba near Yamama. ... this battle took place in 633 A.C between tribal mistress Salma and Khalid ibn al-Walids army. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... battle took place between Khalid ibn al-Walid and a false prophet in 633 A.C september. ... this battle took place between the remaining army of battle of Buzakha and Khalid ibn al-Walids army 20 miles from buzakha. ... this battle took place in october 633 between reble armies and Khalid ibn al-Walids army. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Islamic conquest of Afghanistan. ... Combatants Muslims Persian Empire Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Hormuz,Qubaz and Anushjan Strength 18,000 25,000-30,000 Casualties about 200 10,000-12,000 The Battle of Chains took place Some time in the first week of April 633 (third week of Muharram, 12 Hijri). ... The Battle of River took place in Iraq between the Muslims and the Persian army. ... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Sassanid Persian Empire, Christian Arab allies Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Andarzaghar Strength 15,000[1] 30,000-50,000[1] Casualties ~1000+ [1] 20,000-30,000 [1][2] The Battle of Walaja was a battle fought in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in May 633 between the Muslim... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Combatants Muslims Persians Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid  ? Strength 9000 Un-known Casualties very few. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Persian Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Mahbuzan,Huzail bin Imran. ... Combatants Muslims Christian Arabs. ... Combatants Muslims Christian Arabs. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Persian Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Yazdgerd III Strength 15,000[1] 100,000[2] Casualties Low 50,000[2] The Battle of Firaz was the last battle of the Muslim Arab commander Khalid ibn al-Walid (The Sword of Allah... Combatants Byzantine Empire Muslim Arabs (Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates) The Age of the Caliphs The Muslim conquest of Syria occured in the first half of the 7th century. ... Combatants Muslims Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid  ? Strength 9000 unknown but less then muslims Casualties very Few Unknown but more then muslims. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Ghassanids Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Romanus Strength 4,000 infantry,[1] 1,500 cavalry[1] 12,000[1] Casualties 230[1] 8,000 Bosra was the first important town to be captured by the Muslims in Syria, as it was capital city of... Combatants Eastern Roman Empire Muslim Arabs Commanders Wardan, Governor of Emesa, Qubuqlar, Theodoros Khalid ibn al-Walid, Shurahbil, Yazid Ibn Abi Sufyan, Amr Ibn al-As, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Strength About 25,000[1] 50,000[2] Casualties 20,000 in two days of battle and while fleeing... Combatants Muslims Ghassanids Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid  ? Strength 9000 5000-6000 Casualties none Few hundreds. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Saqalar Strength 30,000 80,000 Casualties Unknown 10,000 The Battle of Fahl was a Byzantine-Arab battle fought between the Muslim Arabs under Khalid ibn al-Walid (The Sword of Allah) and the Roman Empire under Heraclius... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine empire. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Combatants Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine empire. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire[1], Arab Ghassanids, Bulgarian Empire (later) Muslim Arabs (Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates) The Byzantine-Arab Wars was a long drawn-out war between the Byzantine Empire and the emerging Arab Empire. ... Combatants Muslim Arabs Eastern Roman Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Zayd ibn Harithah † Jafar ibn Abu Talib † Abdullah ibn Rawahah † Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Theodorus Shurahbil ibn Amr al-Ghassani Strength 3,000 (Ibn Qayyim)[4][5] 3,000 (Ibn Hajar)[6][5] 100,000 according to Muslim sources... Combatants Muslim Arabs Roman Empire Persian Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Khalid ibn al-Walid Heraclius Yazdgerd III Strength 15,000[1] 100,000[2] Casualties Low 50,000[2] The Battle of Firaz was the last battle of the Muslim Arab commander Khalid ibn al-Walid (The Sword of Allah... This battle took place between byzantine army and Khalid ibn al-Walids army near the city of hazir. ... Combatants Muslims Byzantine Empire Christian Arabs. ... Combatants Muslims Byzantine Empire Christian Arabs Commanders Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Khalid ibn al-Walid Unknown Strength 17,000 40,000-50,000 Casualties Unknown but few hundreds. ... Surat Al-Ahzab (Arabic: سورة الأحزاب ) (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces) is the 33rd sura of the Quran with 73 ayat. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... Surat Al-Ahzab (Arabic: سورة الأحزاب ) (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces) is the 33rd sura of the Quran with 73 ayat. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... Surat Al-Ahzab (Arabic: سورة الأحزاب ) (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces) is the 33rd sura of the Quran with 73 ayat. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: ;, literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Alcoran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: ;, literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Alcoran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Trench warfare is a form of war in which both opposing armies have static lines of defence. ...

Background

The invading armies were a confederation of the tribes Quraysh, Kinanah, Banu Sulaim, Ghatafan, Bani Murrah, Fazarah and Ashja' under the leadership of, amongst others, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. Quraish (sura) is also the name of a Surah in the Quran. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The "Confederates"

Due to the Quranic reference of Ahzab (meaning Confederates), the coalition of armies are referred to as such. The bulk of the Confederate armies consisted of the Quraysh of Mecca, lead by Abu Sufyan, who fielded 4,000 foot soldiers. In addition to that they had 300 men mounted on horses, and 1,000-1,500 men on camels. The second largest contingent was that of Ghatfan who lived near Khaybar, consisting of 1,000 soldiers lead by Unaina bin Hasan Fazari. Other tribes included the Banu Murra with 400 men lead by Hars bin Auf Murri; Banu Shuja with 700 men lead by Sufyanbin Abdu-Shams; Banu Asad lead by Tuleha Asadi. In total, the strength of the Confederate armies is estimated around 10,000.^[1] This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Abu Sufyan ibn Harb was the leader of the Banu Abd Shams clan of the Quraish tribe, and was the chieftain of the entire Quraish tribe, making him one of, if not the most powerful men in Mecca during the lifetime of Muhammad. ... Ruins of a Jewish Fortress at Khaybar Khaybar (خيبر) is the name of an oasis some 95 miles to the north of Medina (ancient Yathrib), Saudi Arabia. ... The Banu Asad are an ancient Arab clan from the tribe of Quraish. ...

Muslim defensive preparations

A man from Banu Khuza'a informed Muhammad about the Confederate armies. Outnumbered, the Muslims opted to engage in a defensive battle by establishing deep trenches to act as a barrier along the northern front. The tactic of a defensive trench was introduced to the Arabs by Salman the Persian, who acquired the knowledge in Persia. Traditional Muslim sources state that every capable Muslim (including Muhammad) in Medina contributed to digging the massive trench in twenty days.^[2] The ditch was dug on the northern side only, as the rest of Medina was surrounded by rocky mountains and trees, impenetrable to large armies. The digging of the ditch coincided with a near-famine in Medina. Women and children were moved to the inner parts of the city.^[3] The final Muslim army consisted of 3,000 men^{[citation needed]} over the age of 15.^[4] Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... Salman the Persian (Arabic سلمان الفارسي Salman Farisi, Persian Salman e Farsi) was one of the Prophet Muhammads companions. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ...

The Battle

Battle of Khandaq (Battle of the Trench)

The Quraish had recruited allies from northwestern Arabia to join the fight, including the assistance of the two exiled Jewish tribes. Image File history File links Battle_of_Khandaq. ... Image File history File links Battle_of_Khandaq. ...

When the Quraysh-led coalition arrived to fight, their cavalry unsuccessfully tried to cross the trench for three days. Amr ibn Wodd al-'Ameri and few other horsemen managed to find a narrow strip along the trench, and could finally jump over the trench and cross to the other side where the Muslim army gathered. Amr was a strong and widely feared man by the Arabs for his fighting abilities, and he was considered to be the greatest among all the heroes of Mecca. Ali ibn Abi Taleb Muhammad's cousin, still a youth at that time, triumphed in combat over Amr ibn Wodd and killed him, in what was a great calamity to the Meccan army. The other horsemen ran away, one of them fell in the trench and was killed. Ali, in this, had shown great courage to face Amro and his star rose even higher among the Muslims as a great hero. The Trench Battle was a huge psychological and strategic setback for the Quraish coalition forces as this was not something they were able to handle nor had they ever experienced this kind of warfare. The very fact that their strongest point was the cavalry, who could not cross the deep trenches, was a blow to their advances. For other uses, see Ali (disambiguation). ...

As the siege around Medina began to last longer than expected, Quraysh sent Huyayy bin Akhtab, the leader of Banu Nadir, to the Banu Qurayza, hoping to win their support. The Banu Qurayza's crucial location on the south side of Medina would allow the confederates to attack Muhammad from two sides. Banu Qurayza were hesitant to join the Meccan alliance since they had earlier made a pact of alliance with Muhammad. Because of this pact Muhammad had not bothered to make defensive preparations along the Muslims' border with the tribe.^[5] Banu Nadir (Arabic: ‎) were one of the three main Jewish tribes living in the 7th century of Medina, now in Saudi Arabia. ... The massacre of the Banu Qurayza. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ...

Learning of the recent developments and realizing the grave danger this incident potentially posed, Muhammad sent three of his companions to bring him details of the recent developments. He advised the men to openly declare their findings, should they find the Qurayza to be loyal, so as to increase the morale of the Muslim fighters. However, he warned against spreading the news of a possible breach of the pact on the Qurayza's part, so as to avoid any panic within Muslim ranks.^[6] In Islam, the Ṣaḥābah (Arabic: ‎ companions) were the companions of Muhammad. ...

The three men did not return with good news. They reported to Muhammad their findings in a metaphor: "Adal and Qarah". Maududi believes this metaphor meant that the Qurayza were about to kill the Muslims like the people of Adal and Qarah did after making a false pact of peace with Muhammad.^[7] Watt writes that the Banu Qurayza "seem to have tried to remain neutral" in the battle.^[8] In the third week of the siege, Banu Qurayza signaled to the Quraysh-led coalition their readiness to act against Muhammad, although they demanded that the Meccans provide them with hostages first, to ensure that they would not be abandoned to face Muhammad alone, if the battle did not go as The Meccans desired. Yet, The Meccans refused to give the Banu Qurayza any hostages, and considered this to be an insult. Shortly after that, when the siege began to be too much for the besieged Muslims to take, a violent, cold gale wind set on the camp of the Meccans in the north of Medina, and the Meccans immediately gave up the fight and marched home, to the bitterness of the Meccan combatants, and the horror and dismay of Banu Qurayza . Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi (alternative spelling Syed; often referred to Maulana Maududi) was one of the most influential Muslim theologians of the 20th century and the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic Party), an Islamist political party in Pakistan. ...

The Tribe of Banu Qurayza

Muhammad ordered his Companions to march upon Banu Qurayza and pitched his tent opposite their fortresses. He then looked for repentance and surrender from the tribe, however they preferred resistance. Muhammad and his forces remained besieging Banu Qurayza for twenty-five days. At last they asked Muhammad for surrender terms. Muhammad agreed to allow the Aws, former friends of the Bani Qurayzah who asked for leniency, to choose an arbitrator from their own clan to decide the fate of the inhabitants of the fortress. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, the chief of the Aws, was chosen to pass judgment on the Bani Qurayzah. Sa‘d ibn Mu’adh decreed that the sentence according to the Torah. The sentence in the Torah of treason is that of death. So Sa'd ibn Mu'adh chose death for the entire tribe for their betrayal, and allegiance to the Meccan forces. All the males around 700 were then executed and the children and females taken captive.

Comments by Scholars on the Banu Qurayzah

Professor Reuven Firestone:

When Muhammad came to town, the organized Jewish community did not accept his prophecy. There were, according to the Islamic sources, some individual Jews that did accept him, but the community as a whole did not. If the Jews would accept his prophethood then he has tremendous and complete confirmation of his prophethood. But the Jews were so well respected that when they rejected his prophethood, and they did it actively, they became a very serious political threat to his very existence in Madinah. Islamic sources say that the Jewish community did indeed aid the enemy in trying to defeat Muhammad. This was absolutely against the terms of the Madinah agreement. The Jews and the Muslims would choose an arbitrator to determine what would be the future of the Jews. The person who was chosen was a man who was mortally wounded in the battle of the Trench. He determined that the women and children of the Banu Qurayzah would be taken as slaves and the men would be killed.

Notes

1. ^ al-Halabi, vol II, part 12, page 19
2. ^ ibn Hisham (1962), pg 234
3. ^ Nomani (1970), pg.370
4. ^ al-Halabi, vol II, part 12, page 27
5. ^ Maududi (1967), pg. 64
6. ^ Maududi (1967), pg. 64
7. ^ Maududi (1967), pg. 65
8. ^ Montgomery Watt, Muhammad at Medina, page 36.

References

• al-Halabi, Nur al-Din. Sirat-i-Halbiyyah. Uttar Pradesh: Idarah Qasmiyyah Deoband.  Translated by Muhammad Aslam Qasmi.
• Maududi, Sayyid Abul Ala (1967). The Meaning of the Quran. Lahore: Islamic Publications Limited. 
• Nomani, Shibli (1970). Sirat al-Nabi. Karachi: Pakistan Historical Society. 

Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi (alternative spelling Syed; often referred to Maulana Maududi) was one of the most influential Muslim theologians of the 20th century and the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic Party), an Islamist political party in Pakistan. ... The Meaning of the Quran is a book in six volums writen by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi and some rank it as one of the best such works in existence today. ...   (Urdu: لاہور, Punjabi: لہور, pronounced ) is the capital of the province of Punjab, and is the second most densely populated city in Pakistan. ...

See also

• Battle of Uhud
• Battle of Khaybar

Combatants Muslims Quraysh-led Coalition Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan Strength 700 3,000 Casualties 70 dead 22 The Battle of Uhud was fought on 23 March, 625, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is now north-western Arabia, and a force from Mecca, the... Combatants Muslim army Jews of Khaybar oasis Commanders Muhammad  ? Strength 1,600  ? Casualties 16  ? The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part... Combatants Muslims Quraysh-led Coalition Commanders Muhammad Abu Sufyan Strength 700 3,000 Casualties 70 dead 22 The Battle of Uhud was fought on 23 March, 625, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is now north-western Arabia, and a force from Mecca, the... Events Jerusalem reconquered by Byzantine Empire from the Persian Empire (September). ... Combatants Muslim army Jews of Khaybar oasis Commanders Muhammad  ? Strength 1,600  ? Casualties 16  ? The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Medina in the north-western part...

External links

• http://www.theislamproject.org/muhammad/muhammad_11_ConceptofTreason.htm