There were 3 prominent jewish tribes in Madinah at that time.

These were:

1. Banu Qainuqa
2. Banu Nazir
3. Banu Quraiza

Banu Qainuqa violated the treaty with the Muslims at the time of the battle of Badr and
thus they were punished by being exiled from Madinah.

Banu Nazir plotted to kill the Prophet Muhammad (‫)صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬. However, the
Prophet Muhammad (‫ )صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬came across this news with the help of some
people of Banu Khuza (an ally of the Muslims) and his companions.

Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) decided to punish them for there violation of the treaty
with the Muslims. The Muslims besieged Banu Nazir and they were forced to surrender.
After that, Banu Nazir was expelled frOM Madinah.

The leaders of Banu Nazir were enraged due to this. They insisted Abu Sufiyan to raise
an army and destroy the Muslims. Abu Sufiyan and the leaders of Banu Nazir invited
various tribes and they managed to raise an army of around 10,000 (ten thousand)
men. Some of the tribes supporting the Quraish and Banu Nazir were:

 Banu Ashja
 Banu Ghatafan
 Banu Asad
 Banu Murra
 Banu Shuja

Banu Khuza (an ally of the Muslims) immediately informed the Prophet Muhammad (‫صلى‬
‫ )هللا عليه وسلم‬about the advancing army towards Madinah. Hazrat Muhammad ( ‫صلى هللا عليه‬
‫ )وسلم‬summoned up his companions to reach a war strategy because the Muslims
managed to raise an army of only 3000 men.

Hazrat Salman Farsi (‫)رضي هللا عنه‬, a Persian convert, came up with a brilliant war
strategy. He advised digging a trench around the North of Madinah because Madinah
was protected from the South, East and West by mountains and other natural barriers.

The strategy was appreciated and adored by the Prophet Muhammad (‫)صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬
and his companions.

Therefore, the process of digging the trench started and the Prophet Muhammad ( ‫صلى‬
‫ )هللا عليه وسلم‬himself took part in the digging.
This was the time when Allah almighty tested the believers. There was a shortage of
food and other basic necessities of life but the Muslims continued their work despite the
harsh conditions.

The Prophet (‫ )صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬demonstrated perfect qualities of being and leader and the
Muslims managed to dig a trench which was about:

 5.5 kilometre long
 9 meters wide
 4.5 meters deep

Events of the battle of the Trench:

When the Quraish army reached Madinah, they were disappointed to see a trench
because they came with the intention of fighting. They had no other decision but to lay a
siege around Madinah.

Diagrammatic representation of the battle of the trench

They planned to cut off all possible supplies of food, water and other necessities and
create a shortage of resources within Madinah and force them to surrender.

The Muslims, however, were steadfast and they managed the crisis with bravery.

There were more Muslims at those points where the trench was a bit less wide and
deeper. There were several occasions on which some people of the Quraish managed
to cross the trench. They were repulsed by the Muslims.

It is to note that the trench was very wide. It was not possible to cross it except for some
points where the Muslims were constantly present.

Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl, Naufal bin Abdullah and some other Quraish managed to come
across the trench. They were successfully repulsed by Hazrat Ali (‫ )رضي هللا عنه‬and the
companions of the Prophet Muhammad (‫)صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬.

Naufil bin Abdullah was killed while Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl managed to escape.

What happened next?

Well, this was a very crucial time in the battle of the khandaq. This was because Nuaym
ibn Masood (the leader of the Banu Ghatafan tribe) converted to Islam. The
contributions of Nuaym bin Masood proved critical for the defeat of the Quraish.
What happened was that Nuyam met the Prophet (‫ )صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬and he discussed the
future strategy of the war.

He showed the Quraish that he was with them but in fact, he was with the Muslims. He
sowed seeds of distrust between the various tribes that were supporting the Quraish.

What happened was that the tribes slowly withdrew their support from
the Makkans. This was a very crucial juncture in the battle.

All of this continued and the Muslims were constantly busy in seeking
help from God. On night, a massive storm took over and the Makkans
were taken by surprise.

Their camps were destroyed and their troops were disorganized. The
severe storm forced the Quraish to lift up the siege and thus the battle
ended in victory for the Muslims.

The Aftermath of the battle:

Now, the question was the treatment of Banu Quraiza who supported

the Makkans although there were in a treaty with the Muslims.

The Prophet (‫ )صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬ordered them to surrender but they shut
themselves in their forts. The Muslims besieged them and they were
forced to surrender.

Saad ibn Mua’dh (the leader of the Aws tribe who died later due to a
wound received in the battle of the trench) decided their fate according
to the old testament.

Hazrat Ayesha (R.A) narrated:

On the day of al-Khandaq (Battle of the Trench), Sa’d was injured

and Allah’s Messenger (‫ )ﷺ‬pitched a tent for him in the mosque
to visit him from a close distance. [Agreed upon].
All the men of Banu Quraiza were killed and their women and children
were taken as captives and divided among the Muslims along with
their property.

The Quran regarding this battle says:

O you who have believed, remember the favour of Allah upon you
when armies came to (attack) you and We sent upon them a wind and
armies (of angels) you did not see.

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:9)

The Importance:

The importance of the battle of the khandaq is that it broke the

strength of the Quraish of Makkah who were constantly planning to
destroy Islam and the Muslims.

The Quraish were very satisfied after the battle of Uhud and therefore,

the defeat at the battle of the trench broke their attitude and pride.
The power of Allah almighty was evident to all the people and the
victory exposed the Jewish tribes who were constantly planning to
harm the Muslims.

Moreover, the battle paved a way forward for other victories for the
Muslims. The low morale of some Muslims after the battle of Uhud
was lifted up.

Lastly, other tribes supporting the Quraish were also exposed to the
Muslims and their defeat at the battle of the ditch weakened them for
any future encounter with the Muslims