The Battle of the Trench
غزوة الخندقA grand coalition besieged Madinah. The Muslims dug a trench to shield the city, and after a tense siege a bitter wind and internal discord scattered the confederates without a pitched battle.
Opposing force
≈ 10,000 (the Confederates)
۞
The Trench (al-Khandaq)
On Salmān al-Fārisī's advice, a trench was dug across the exposed northern front, a tactic new to Arabia.
The believers
≈ 3,000
Siege repelled · the Confederates dispersed
How it unfolded
- 1
Salmān al-Fārisī (ra) proposed the trench; the Muslims dug it in about six days, the Prophet ﷺ working alongside them.
- 2
The trench stunned the besiegers, who could not cross; only a few horsemen leapt it and were repelled.
- 3
Nuʿaym ibn Masʿūd (ra), newly Muslim, sowed distrust between the allied tribes.
- 4
A fierce cold wind tore through the confederate camp, and they withdrew in disarray.
Reflections
- Consultation and ingenuity in adversity.
- Relief comes from Allah when resolve holds.
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Source & authenticity · Compiled from standard Seerah works (principally Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum). Figures are the traditional ones; disputed numbers are flagged. Editorial summaries in our own words, under scholarly review.