The Battle of al-Khandaq (trench)
- Updated On Sunday, 27 July 2014
- Written by Allamah Qurashi
- Editor Faisal Shaheen
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Wednesday, 07 May 2014
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- Hits: How did the Battle of al-Khandagh accrue and what was the outcome of this battle?
The battle of al-Khandaq was one of the most violent battles that the Muslims had ever engaged in. As all of the Arab tribes had gathered together against the Prophet (a.s.), it was therefore called "the battle of parties (ahzab)". The Muslims were very worried about the mounting opposition and ensuing battle and fear overcame them. The Jews of Arabia had a significant role in this battle. A group of them went to the people of Quraysh and told them that they would side with them against the Prophet (a.s.) in order to do away with him and his followers. They preferred idolatry to the religion of Allah and the Quraysh responded to the call of the Jews. Digging the trench When the Prophet (a.s.) was informed about the preparations of the Quraysh and the intention of the other Arab tribes of Ghatafan to fight him, he gathered his companions, informed them and asked them to suggest the best strategy to respond to this aggression. His companion Salman al-Farisi suggested that they dig a trench around Medina to prevent the enemy from entering the town. The Prophet (a.s.) accepted this suggestion and along with his Companions, proceeded to dig the trench. The Prophet (a.s.) himself worked with the other Muslims and Refused to be distinguished from them. Upon seeing the trench, the Quraysh and the other Arab parties were astonished and were unable to cross it. They remained on the otherside of the trench shooting waves of arrows at the Muslims. The Muslims yreturned with volleys of arrows from their own archers without both sides ever engaging in skirmishes between their sword bearing warriors. . The crossing of the trench Isolated flanks of the enemy found that they were able to cross the trench and began challenging the Muslim forces in close combat. Among the enemy forces that could cross the trench was Amr bin Abd Wudd, a famous hero and knight of Quraysh in the pre-Islamic age. He cried out: "O men of Muhammad! Would anyone of you duel (with me)?" No one of Muslims replied except a very young Imam Ali, who cried out: "I am to him, O messenger of Allah." Amr challenged the Muslims several times and none replied him except Ali whom the Prophet (a.s.) permitted after hearing his insistence.. The Prophet (a.s.) said: "The whole faith has appeared to the whole disbelief." Imam Ali would defeat Amr and by it, the back of polytheism was broken and its power reduced to nothingness. The victory of the Muslims was realized at Imam Ali's hand before the actual war began. The Prophet (a.s.) said: "The fighting of Ali bin Abi Talib against Amr bin Abd Wudd on the day of al-Khandaq (the trench) is better than the deeds of my nation until the Day of Resurrection."1 Quraysh and its allies ran away, overcome by fright and worry after losing their greatest hero in this battle. On the other side of the trench, the Muslims did not suffer any loss.
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References: 1 Tareekh al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, vol. 13 p. 19, Mustadrak al-Hakim, vol. 3 p. 32.