The Battle of the Trench
The Jews of Banu Nadir had been expelled from their area in Madinah. For this reason, their prominent leaders went to Makkah al-Mukarramah. They told the Quraysh the entire situation and urged them to come forward to fight the Muslims. They greatly incited the Quraysh and said:
«“In the event of war, we will stand with you until Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions are completely destroyed. We are with you in your enmity toward the Muslims.”»
Hearing this, the leader of the polytheists, Abu Sufyan, said:
«“In our view, the most beloved and favored person is the one who helps us in our enmity against Muhammad (ﷺ). But we will not trust you until you prostrate yourselves before our idols, so that our hearts may be satisfied.”»
As soon as they heard this, the Jews prostrated themselves before the idols. The Quraysh then said:
«“O Jews! You are the People of the Book, and your Book is the earliest Book. Therefore, you possess the greatest knowledge. So tell us: which religion is better—our religion or the religion of Muhammad (ﷺ)?”»
The Jews replied:
«“Your religion is better than the religion of Muhammad, and you are far more advanced than him in truth and righteousness.”»
Hearing the Jews’ answer, the Quraysh became very pleased. They also accepted the advice that the Jews had given them regarding fighting the Prophet ﷺ.
Thus, at that very time, fifty young men from the Quraysh came forward. They held the curtain of the Kaaba, pressed it against their chests, and took an oath that they would not betray one another at the crucial moment and that, as long as even one of them remained alive, they would remain united against Muhammad ﷺ.
The Quraysh then began preparations for war. The Jews also continued trying to bring other tribes into the alliance. In this way, a large army was prepared against the Muslims.
When the Prophet ﷺ received information about the preparations of the disbelievers, he summoned the Companions رضي الله عنهم for consultation. The Prophet ﷺ informed them about the enemy’s preparations for war and then asked their advice as to whether they should remain inside Madinah and face the enemy or go outside the city to confront them.
At this, Salman al-Farsi رضي الله عنه gave the following advice:
«“O Messenger of Allah! In our country of Persia, whenever we feared an enemy, we would dig a trench around the city.”»
Everyone liked the advice of Salman al-Farsi رضي الله عنه. Therefore, work began on digging a trench around Madinah. All the Companions رضي الله عنهم took part in digging the trench. The Prophet ﷺ himself also dug the trench.
During the digging of the trench, the Companions رضي الله عنهم suffered from hunger. It was a time of general hardship and poverty.
While digging, they came across a place where the ground was extremely hard and rocky. The Companions رضي الله عنهم were unable to dig through it. Eventually, the Prophet ﷺ was informed.
The Prophet ﷺ took the pickaxe in his own hands and struck the place. With a single blow, the rocky ground crumbled like sand.
During the blows, flashes of light appeared. The Companions رضي الله عنهم asked about these flashes of light and how they had appeared. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“With the first flash, Allah Almighty gave me the news of the conquest of Yemen. Through the second flash, Allah Almighty informed me that He had granted me victory over Syria and the West, and through the third flash, He showed me the conquest of the East.”»
In short, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Companions رضي الله عنهم had completed the digging of the trench, the army of the Quraysh and their allies had reached the outskirts of Madinah.
In this battle, the disbelievers numbered ten thousand, while the Muslims numbered only three thousand.
When the polytheists’ army saw the trench surrounding Madinah, they were astonished. They exclaimed:
«“By God! This is an extremely remarkable military strategy. The Arabs were not familiar with this method of warfare.”»
Groups of polytheists repeatedly came toward the trench and then returned. The Muslims would also suddenly come to the trench, shoot arrows toward the disbelievers, and then return.
Among the disbelievers, Naufal ibn Abdullah tried to cross the trench while riding his horse. However, his horse could not make it across and fell into the trench along with its rider. Naufal’s neck bone was broken. One narration also states that Ali رضي الله عنه descended into the trench and killed him.
This sort of skirmishing continued between the disbelievers and the Muslims. In reality, because of the trench, the disbelievers were unable to launch a proper attack against the Muslims.
Before the battle, the women and children had been taken to a small fortress. This place belonged to Hassan ibn Thabit رضي الله عنه, and Hassan رضي الله عنه himself was also there.
Among the women guarding the fortress was the paternal aunt of the Prophet ﷺ, Safiyyah رضي الله عنها.
A Jewish spy came toward that area to conduct reconnaissance. When Safiyyah رضي الله عنها saw the Jew, she said to Hassan رضي الله عنه:
«“O Hassan! This man will inform the enemy that women and children are present in this fortress, and the enemy may attack us from this side. Therefore, go down and kill him.”»
Hassan رضي الله عنه replied:
«“You know that I am not a man for this kind of task.”»
Hassan رضي الله عنه was actually a poet and was not familiar with the methods of warfare. Moreover, he was quite old at that time—elderly and weak—which is why he said this.
When Safiyyah رضي الله عنها saw that Hassan رضي الله عنه would not undertake the task, she picked up a thick stick and went down herself. She quietly followed the man and suddenly attacked him. She struck him several times with the stick until he was overcome.
Then she took a sword, killed him, and threw his head toward the Jews who were following behind him. They all became frightened and fled.
Meanwhile, several men from among the polytheists advanced. They took their horses some distance away, made them run at full speed, and at a place where the trench was narrower, they made a long jump and finally succeeded in crossing it.
Among these men was Amr ibn Abd Wudd. He was a famous champion of Arabia. It was popularly said about him that he was extremely brave and that one man alone was enough for him to face a thousand men.
As soon as he crossed the trench, he called out:
«“Who is there who will come out to face me?”»
Hearing his challenge, Ali رضي الله عنه came forward. He said to the Prophet ﷺ:
«“O Messenger of Allah! Let me go against him.”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“Sit down. This is Amr ibn Abd Wudd.”»
Amr called out again. Ali رضي الله عنه stood up once more. The Prophet ﷺ again told him to sit down.
He called for a challenger a third time. Finally, the Prophet ﷺ gave Ali رضي الله عنه permission.
Ali رضي الله عنه came into the field reciting these lines:
«“Do not be hasty. The one who accepts your challenge has come before you—one who is in no way helpless or weak before you.”»
According to one narration, the Prophet ﷺ gave Ali رضي الله عنه his sword, Dhu al-Fiqar, placed his own turban upon his head, and prayed to Allah for his success.
Before the confrontation, Ali رضي الله عنه invited Amr to Islam and said:
«“I invite you to Allah and His Messenger, and I call you to Islam.”»
He refused and said:
«“Nephew! I do not want to kill you. Go back.”»
In reply, Ali رضي الله عنه said:
«“But I want to kill you.”»
Hearing this, Amr ibn Abd Wudd became angry. At that time, he was completely covered in armor, and even his face was concealed by his helmet.
He jumped down from his horse, drew his sword, and advanced toward Ali رضي الله عنه.
To protect himself from the sword, Ali رضي الله عنه immediately raised his shield. Amr’s sword struck the shield, splitting it, and the sword reached Ali رضي الله عنه’s forehead, causing a wound there.