(Scenes from the Battle of the Trench)
The trick that divided the Allies:
The siege lasted for about a month. During that period, the Allies invaded all the areas surrounding Madeenah, creating great hardship for the Muslims. The Hypocrites betrayed the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), thus revealing their true nature. Some even asked the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), if they could go into Madeenah because they had left their houses unlocked. In fact, they only wanted to flee from the battlefront.
The Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were keeping a watchful eye on the enemy besieging them when Nu'aym ibn Mas'ud, a man from the tribe of Ghatafaan, came up. He addressed the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), saying, "O Messenger of Allah, I have become a Muslim but my people do not know that. Tell me what you want me to do and I will do whatever you wish." The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), replied: "You are the only Muslim there, so stay among our enemies and try to help us in whatever way you can; war is deception."
Nu'aym ibn Mas'ud then went to the Banu Quraydhah and attempted to create doubts in their mind, saying that their alliance with the Quraish and Ghatafaan, who were distant tribes, and their antagonism towards the Muhaajiroon and Ansaar, who were their close neighbors, showed want of prudence. He suggested that they should not fight alongside the Quraish and Ghatafaan until they had taken some of their leaders as hostages for security. They answered, "You have given us good advice."
Then he went and informed the Quraish that the Jews were regretting their alliance with them and that they would be asking for some of their leaders to be held hostage as security that the treaty would not be broken. He also said that when they handed the hostages over to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with him, the hostages would be beheaded. Later, he told Banu Ghatafaan the same story. Soon the Allies were divided by their fear and distrust of one another.
When Abu Sufyaan and the leaders of the Ghatafaan were ready to fight a decisive battle with the Muslims, the Jews of Banu Quraydhah postponed it, demanding hostages from both sides first. The Quraish and Ghatafaan now believed Nu'aym ibn Mas'ud's tale and adamantly refused to grant the Jews' request. Consequently, the Jews were also convinced that Nu'aym had told them the truth. The Allies were broken up.
Allah The Almighty aids His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), and helps him gain victory over the enemy:
Allah The Almighty supported His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), by causing a hurricane to blow during the frosty nights. It blew off the enemy's tents and overturned their cooking-pots. The enemy camp was in havoc, and the men felt wretched and miserable. Finally, Abu Sufyaan got up and said, "O company of Quraish! By Allah, we are not in a permanent camp. The horses and camels are dying. The Banu Quraydhah have broken their promise to us and we have heard things about them which we dislike. We have suffered from the harshness of the wind as you can see and we are left without a cooking pot, or a fire. Not even a tent is standing up. Leave now, for I am going." Then Abu Sufyaan went to his camel, which was hobbled, and mounted it. He beat it but did not free it until it was standing.
When the Ghatafaan heard that the Quraish had departed, they also left. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was standing in prayer when Huthayfah ibn Al-Yamaan, may Allah be pleased with him, informed him of what had taken place. In the morning, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), left the trench and returned to Madeenah. All the Muslims followed him, laying down their weapons. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who believe, remember Allah's blessing on you when hosts came against you, and We loosed against them a wind, and hosts you did not see. Allah sees what you do.} [Quran, 33: 9]and:{Allah sent back those that were unbelievers in their rage and they attained no good. Allah spared the believers of fighting. Surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.}[Quran, 33: 25]
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "The Quraish will never raid you after this year. Rather you will raid them.
Seven Muslims were martyred on the Day of the Trench while four idol-worshippers were killed by the Muslims."
