Events of the Battle of the Trench
Blood began to flow from the forehead of Ali رضي الله عنه as a result of Amr’s blow, but he immediately launched a counterattack. His sword struck the lower part of Amr ibn Abd Wudd’s neck. The sword cut through toward the collarbone, and he fell to the ground. The Muslims raised the cry of “Allahu Akbar!”
When the Prophet ﷺ heard this cry, he knew that Ali رضي الله عنه had killed Amr.
As soon as Amr fell, those who had come with him fled. Zubayr رضي الله عنه pursued them and struck one of the fleeing disbelievers with his sword. He was killed, and Zubayr’s sword passed from his head down to his hip.
Some Muslims said to Zubayr رضي الله عنه:
«“O Abu Abdullah! We have never seen a sword cut like yours. By Allah, this is not the excellence of the sword; it is the excellence of the one who wields the sword.”»
The battle continued throughout the entire day. Fighting was taking place along every section of the trench. Because of this, neither the Prophet ﷺ nor any of the Muslims was able to offer any prayer from Zuhr until Isha.
Because of this situation, the Muslims repeatedly said:
«“We were unable to offer the prayer.”»
Hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ would say:
«“Nor was I able to offer it.”»
When the fighting finally stopped, the Prophet ﷺ ordered Bilal رضي الله عنه to give the Adhan. Bilal رضي الله عنه called the Iqamah for Zuhr, and the Prophet ﷺ led the prayer.
Immediately afterward, Bilal رضي الله عنه called the Iqamah for Asr, and the Prophet ﷺ offered the Asr prayer. In the same manner, the Maghrib and Isha prayers were offered later in congregation.
Thus, the battle of the trench continued without interruption.
One day, Khalid ibn al-Walid attacked with a detachment of polytheists. At that time, Usayd ibn Hudayr رضي الله عنه was present on that side with two hundred horsemen.
As soon as Khalid ibn al-Walid crossed the trench with his detachment, they came face-to-face with him. In this way, Khalid ibn al-Walid was forced to return unsuccessfully.
This situation continued for a long time, and the Companions رضي الله عنهم became worried. Eventually, the Prophet ﷺ supplicated to Allah Almighty.
In response, Jibril عليه السلام came and gave the glad tidings that Allah Almighty would send a storm of wind against the enemy. Along with the storm, Allah would also send His army—the angels—against them.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed the Companions رضي الله عنهم of this news, and everyone thanked Allah.
The supplication of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was accepted on Wednesday between Zuhr and Asr.
Eventually, a storm of reddish wind overtook the polytheists. The weather was already cold in those days, and on top of that, they were surrounded by this freezing storm.
The tents of the polytheists were overturned, their utensils were knocked over, and the powerful gusts of wind scattered everything from one place to another. People fell upon their belongings, and belongings fell upon people.
Then the wind blew so much sand that who knows how many of them became covered by it. Because of the sand, their fires went out and their cooking places became cold. With the fires extinguished, darkness seemed to swallow them.
This was the punishment of Allah that came upon them, and they were thrown into confusion.
Allah Almighty says:
«“Then We sent against them a wind and forces that you could not see. And Allah sees what you do.”»
(Surah al-Ahzab)
As for the angels, the essential point in this regard is that they did not actually participate in the fighting. Rather, their presence created fear and awe in the hearts of the polytheists.
The wind that blew that night was called Bād al-Sabā—that is, a wind that blows on a severely cold night.
The Prophet ﷺ therefore said:
«“I was helped through the Bād al-Sabā, and this people was destroyed through the yellow wind.”»
The yellow wind filled the eyes of the polytheists with dust, causing their eyes to close.
This storm continued for a long time without interruption.
At the same time, the Prophet ﷺ learned that division had begun to appear among the polytheists.
The Prophet ﷺ had announced:
«“Who will bring us news of the enemy?”»
Zubayr رضي الله عنه stood up and said:
«“O Messenger of Allah! I will go.”»
The Prophet ﷺ repeated this question three times. Each time, Zubayr رضي الله عنه was the one who answered.
Finally, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«“Every prophet has a disciple and helper, and my disciple and helper is Zubayr.”»
Then the Prophet ﷺ sent Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman رضي الله عنه for this task.
Because of exhaustion, Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه did not have enough strength to go. However, the Prophet ﷺ supplicated for him:
«“Go. May Allah Almighty protect you from in front of you, from behind you, from your right and from your left, and may you return to us safely.”»
Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه set out from there and reached the enemy camp.
There he heard Abu Sufyan saying:
«“O group of Quraysh! Let every person be cautious of those sitting around him, and be completely alert regarding spies.”»
Then he said:
«“O Quraysh! We have fallen into extremely difficult circumstances. Our animals have perished. The Jews of Banu Qurayzah have betrayed us, and unpleasant things have been heard from them. On top of that, you can see the destruction caused by this stormy wind. Therefore, go back. I am also going back.”»
Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه returned with this news.
At that time, the Prophet ﷺ was offering prayer. When he finished the prayer, Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه informed him of the condition of the enemy.
The Prophet ﷺ smiled so broadly that, in the darkness of the night, his blessed teeth could be seen.
When the army of the disbelievers fled from Madinah in a state of confusion, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«“From now on, they will not attack us. Rather, we will attack them.”»
Some Special Events During the Battle of the Trench
Several special incidents took place during the Battle of the Trench.
While the trench was being dug, the daughter of Bashir ibn Sa‘d رضي الله عنه brought some dates in a bowl. She had brought these dates for her father and her maternal uncle.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw the dates, he said:
«“Bring the dates here.”»
The girl turned the container of dates over into the hands of the Prophet ﷺ. There were so few dates that they were not enough even to fill both hands.
Seeing this, the Prophet ﷺ asked for a piece of cloth. He spread it out and placed it on the ground. Then he said to a Companion standing nearby:
«“Call the people. Tell them to come quickly.”»
Everyone soon came.
The Prophet ﷺ began placing the dates onto the cloth with his own hands. The people kept picking them up from the cloth and eating them.
Before the dates were brought, all of them had been hungry. In their state of hunger, they ate these dates until everyone’s stomach was full.
Yet the dates were still falling from the hands of the Prophet ﷺ.
A similar incident happened with Jabir رضي الله عنه.
When he learned that the Prophet ﷺ was suffering from severe hunger, he went home. There was a small young goat in his house and some wheat.
He said:
«“The Prophet ﷺ is hungry. Therefore, slaughter this goat and prepare some food, and grind the wheat and bake bread. I will bring the Prophet of Allah ﷺ with me.”»
After some time, Jabir رضي الله عنه came into the presence of the Prophet ﷺ and quietly said that food had been prepared for him at home.
Hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ said to someone:
«“Announce that everyone is invited to Jabir’s house.”»
The announcement was made, calling everyone to go to Jabir’s house.
Jabir رضي الله عنه became worried about how such a small amount of food could be enough for so many people.
In his state of worry, he recited:
«“Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.”»
Then he returned home.
The food was placed before the Prophet ﷺ. He said:
«“May Allah bless it.”»
Then the Prophet ﷺ recited Bismillah, and everyone began to eat.
People came one after another, ate, and left, while others took their place. This continued until everyone had eaten to their fill.
At that time, the number of Muslims was one thousand.
Jabir رضي الله عنه says:
«“By Allah! When everyone had finished eating and left, we looked and found that there was still as much food remaining in the house as had originally been placed before the Prophet ﷺ.”»
Jibril عليه السلام Comes After the Battle
When the Prophet ﷺ finished with the Battle of the Trench and returned home, it was around midday.
The Prophet ﷺ offered the Zuhr prayer and entered the chamber of Aishah al-Siddiqah رضي الله عنها.
The Prophet ﷺ had only just begun taking a bath when suddenly Jibril عليه السلام arrived there wearing a black silk turban.
Jibril عليه السلام was riding a mule.
As soon as he arrived, he said to the Prophet ﷺ:
«“O Messenger of Allah! Have you put down your weapons?”»
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«“Yes, I have put them down.”»
Hearing this, Jibril عليه السلام said:
«“But the angels of Allah Almighty have not yet put down their weapons.”»