Battle of Khandaq: Difference between revisions

'''The Battle of Khandaq''' (Arabic: {{ia|غزوة الخندق}}, Battle of the Trench) or '''The Battle of Aḥzāb''' (Arabic: {{ia|غزوة الأحزاب}}, Battle of the Confederates) took place in the [[5|fifth]] year of [[Hijra]]/627. It initially broke out by the stratagem of [[Banu Nadir]] tribe. [[Quraysh]] tribe became united with all its allies, including polytheist Arab tribes, to eradicate Islam. The number of their soldiers was ten thousand, yet the Muslim army was only three thousand soldiers.

[[Banu Qurayza]] tribe had promised to be impartial in case of war; nevertheless, they violated the contract and became confederate with the unbelievers. To take up arms against the unbelievers, Muslims dug a trench around [[Medina]], an idea from [[Salman al-Farsi]]. The war terminated by Muslim's victory, and the army of polytheists had to withdraw.

Muslims remained silent while they were overwhelmed with panic. Ultimately, [['Ali (a)]] volunteered and went for the challenge with the [[Prophet (s)]]'s consent. He succeeded in taking 'Amr's life. This had such a huge positive impact on Muslim's spirit that led to them triumphing over the enemy. "'Ali's stroke was superior to any jinn's or human's (thaqalayn) worship", said Prophet Muhammad (s).

This war is named as al-Khandaq (trench) because Muslims dug a trench. This war is also well-known as al-Ahzab (confederates) since the Quraysh tribe got unified with other tribes to eradicate Islam.

As following plans, Jews mentioned earlier met Ghatafan tribe, led by 'Uyayna b. Hisn al-Fazari. They persuaded them to participate in the war by promising to provide them with a one-year date product of [[Khaybar]] area. Then, they visited Banu Sulaym b. Mansur and convinced them as well.

The unbelievers' army all together were ten thousand men. Four thousands of them, along with three hundred horses and 1,500 camels, were from the Quraysh tribe and its confederates. In some references, the number of them (Quraysh, Ghatafan, Banu Sulaym, Banu Asad, Banu Ashja', Banu Qurayza, Banu Nadir, and other Jews) is said to be twenty-four thousand. The unity of the [[unbeliever]]s and Jews in this war represents their determination to eliminate Islam. That is why, when Imam 'Ali (a) confronted 'Amr b. 'Abd Wad, the Prophet said: "The whole Islam has faced the whole polytheism". Some sources believe the number of Muslims was only three thousand.

Being informed about polytheists' determination by a supporter from [[Khuza'a]] tribe, the [[Prophet (s)]] asked for people's opinions about whether to stay in [[Medina]] and fight there, or leave the city and confront the polytheists out of the city. "Whenever we were in danger by enemy's horsemen in [[Iran]], we dug a trench all around us", said [[Salman al-Farsi]]. Having been conquered in the [[Battle of Uhud]] due to their opposition with Prophet's (s) opinion (and leaving the city), people chose to stay in town and accepted Salman's suggestion to dig a trench. Digging trench was not commonplace among 'Arabs up to that time, and it provoked amazement among both Muslims and the polytheists.

The digging trench lasted for six days. Youngsters and adolescents took part in it as well.

[[Ka'b b. Asad al-Qurazi]], the leader of Banu Qurayza, despite his unwillingness at the beginning, chose to be on the polytheists' side because of the persuasion of Huyayy b. Akhtab. The Prophet (s) sent the leaders of [[Aws and Khazraj]] tribes (in order: [[Sa'd b. Mu'adh]] and [[Sa'd b. 'Ubada]]) to make sure about the authenticity of this news. He asked them to inform him in a way that no one found out so that it would not put Muslims in low spirits. Banu Qurayza had the worst behavior with them with the most insulting words. They came back to the Prophet (s) and notified him by naming the two tribes 'Adal and Qara. What they meant by it was the remembrance of the treachery of these two tribes towards [[Khubayb b. 'Adi]] and his friends in Raji'.

Some of the Muslims, like Banu Haritha, asked the Prophet (s) for permission to leave, putting forward the excuse that their houses are unprotected, and they worry about enemy's attacks or burglary. There have been some narrations about shooting arrows, hard fighting, and injuries from both sides, such as [[Sa'd b. Mu'adh]]. Also, it has been said that [[Khalid b. al-Walid]], [['Amr b. al-'As]], and [[Abu Sufyan]] had some attacks against the Muslim army.

When the danger of Banu Qurayza's night attack to the center of Medina intensified, the Prophet (s) made two groups of the [[companion]]s responsible for guarding Muslim's houses. Since Muslims' anxiety was more about Banu Qurayza attacks on women and children rather than about Quraysh attacks to themselves, they recited [[takbir]] until morning.  

Even though [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] volunteered to fight with him, the [[Prophet (s)]] did not allow him, hoping that someone else would stand against him. No one became a volunteer owing to their fear. As this condition lasted for quite a long time, 'Amr announced proudly that he got a sore throat because of constantly calling for a rival!

Ultimately, Imam 'Ali (a) got ready to begin the combat with the Prophet's (s) permission. The Prophet (s) put his 'imama (turban) on 'Ali's (a) head, gave his sword to him, and sent him to the battle. Ali (a) proceeded and told Amr either to become Muslim or to call off the combat. Amr refused both suggestions; therefore, a tough battle took place. 'Ali (a) warded Amr's stroke off by his shield, then took his life by a strong stroke, resulting in all his companion's escape. 'Ali (a) recited [[takbir]] right after his victory over 'Amr, then killed Nawfal b. 'Abd Allah, who was running away and was trapped while passing the trench.

Ali's (a) action of killing Amr b. Abd Wudd helped the Muslim army significantly to be victorious over the [[polytheist]]s. About it, the Prophet (s) said:

Aside from Ali's (a) combat with [['Amr b. 'Abd Wudd]], which resulted in the enemy's defeat and escape, historians have referred to three other factors assisting Muslims in the Battle of Khandaq.

Nu'aym met the Prophet (s) covertly. He told Nu'aym to undermine the enemy and to arise disputes among them. Nu'aym asked the Prophet (s) for permission to say whatever he wants to achieve this goal. The Prophet (s) allowed him and said, "War is deceit". Nu'aym b. Mas'ud met [[Banu Qurayza]], whom he already had intercourse with. He recommended that they had better ask [[Quraysh]] and Ghatafan for hostages, on account that they had no worry about their houses being accessible, so they could easily leave Banu Qurayza alone. Then, he visited Quraysh and Ghatafan and informed them about Banu Qurayza's regret and disloyalty. He told them Banu Qurayza had decided to take a hostage from them, give the hostages up to Muhammad (s), and establish peace between themselves and Muslims. He recommended that they not give any hostages to Banu Qurayza. Consequently, disputes arose among them.

Polytheists' defeat and withdrawal in the Battle of Khandaq paralyzed them so that they couldn't rearrange their army and devise another scheme for a fight. Moreover, it built up the newly-established Islamic government of Medina. After the death of 'Amr b. 'Abd Wudd by Ali (a) or after the polytheists' defeat which occurred two or three days after Amr's death, the Prophet of Islam (s) said: "We will make war against them afterward, and they will not go to war with us". The same as what the Prophet (s) said happened until God released [[Mecca]] by his Prophet (s).

On Mount Dhubab (well-known as Jabal al-Raya), about 1400 meters away from the Northwest of [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] and 150 meters far from the North of Mount Sal', there is a mosque which recently was renewed and repaired, so-called as Masjid al-Raya. It is the area where the [[Prophet (s)]] supervised digging the trench from, had put up his tent, and said prayers.

Other mosques by the names of [[Masjid al-Fath]] (also known as Masjid al-Ahzab or Masjid al-A'la) were built on Mount Sal' around seven hundred meters away al-Masjid al-Nabawi, where the Prophet's (s) tent had been put up, a place in which he said prayers, monitored everything and received God's blessing promise of victory over the polytheists.{{enote|Certainly Allah has fulfilled His Apostle’s vision in all truth: You will surely enter the Sacred Mosque, God willing, in safety and without any fear, with your heads shaven or hair cropped. So He knew what you did not know, and He assigned [you] besides that a victory near at hand. Qur'an 48:27}} This mosque along with some other mosques on the foot of Mount Sal' are famous as Masajid al-Fath or [[al-Masajid al-Sab'a]] (the seven mosques). In 1424/2003-2004, a very large mosque named Masjid al-Khandaq was constructed, having some of the seven mosques inside.