(Scenes from the Battle of the Trench)
In Shawwal, 5 A.H., the Battle of the Trench took place, in which the Ahzaab (Allies) united against the Muslims in Madeenah, in an attempt to eradicate Islam once and for all. Though confronted with an army that vastly outnumbered their own, the Muslims faced every difficulty and setback together, and came closer as a community in that time of distress. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {When they came against you from above you and from below you, and when your eyes swerved and your hearts reached your throats, and you thought thoughts about Allah; there it was that the believers were tried, and shaken most mightily.}[Quran, 33: 11]
Jews from the tribes of Banu An-Nadheer and Banu Wa'il instigated the Quraish in Makkah to fight the Muslims. Consequently, the Quraish gathered forces with other tribes like Ghatafaan, with the Quraish gathering four thousand fighters and the Ghatafaan six thousand, under the leadership of Abu Sufyaan ibn Harb.
The Muslims, who numbered less than 3000, decided to fortify themselves in Madeenah and defend the city. The Companion Salman Al-Farsi, may Allah be pleased with him, suggested that a trench be dug around Madeenah for protection. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), agreed to this, and forty cubits of digging were assigned to every group of ten Muslims. The length of the ditch was about five thousand cubits and its depth varied between seven and ten cubits. Its width was at least nine cubits.
Cultivating the spirit of equality and mutual support amongst the Muslims:
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), helped to dig the ditch and encouraged the Muslims working alongside him. Although it was bitterly cold and food was in short supply, the work proceeded smoothly. Thus, as a leader, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), set the example in being humble enough to join in the digging, even though he was especially chosen by Allah The Almighty as the Seal of the Prophets, and a Messenger to all of humanity.
Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ''We complained to the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) of hunger and we showed him the stones that we had tied round our bellies to ease the pain. Then the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) showed us that he had two stones on his belly." In spite of all the discomforts that hunger, cold and hard work inflicted, they were happy, praising Allah The Almighty and reciting poems. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, tells us, "The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) went out to the ditch when the Muhaajiroon (Emigrants) and Ansaar (Helpers) were digging in the bitterly cold morning air. They had no slaves to do it for them. Seeing their state of fatigue and hunger, he said: 'O Allah! True life is the life of the next world. So forgive the Ansaar and the Muhaajiroon.'In response they said, 'We are those who have given homage to Muhammad. To fight in Jihaad as long as we have life.'"
The prophecy of future conquests:
In the course of the digging, the Muslims came upon a large rock that their picks could not shift. When they complained to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), about it he took up a pick, saying: "Bismillaah (In the name of Allah)." His first blow broke off a third of the rock and sent sparks flying. "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great)!"he said: "I have been given the keys of Syria. By Allah, I see its red castles, if Allah wills."He struck at the rock a second time and another third broke off. At this, he said:"Allahu Akbar! I have been given the keys of Persia and, by Allah, I see the white castles of Al-Mada'in." With his third blow, he, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), invoked the name of Allah The Almighty and the rest of the rock shattered: "Allahu Akbar! I have been given the keys of the Yemen. By Allah, I see the gates of San'a' from here."
Many miracles occurred during the digging of the trench. For instance, once, when the ground was too hard to dig in part of the ditch, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), called for some water, spat into it and prayed a supplication willed by Allah The Almighty. When he poured the water over the hard ground, it became soft like sand. On other occasions, a small amount of food could satisfy a large number of Muslims or even the entire army of three thousand workers.
