The Battle of Al-Ahzab (The Trench)

Regarding the battle of Al-Ahzab or Al-Khandaq (the trench), Allah, Most High, revealed the following Qur’anic veres,

“O ye who believer! remember the grace of Allah, (bestowed) on you, when there come down on you hosts (to overwhelm you): but We sent against them a hurricane and forces that ye saw not: but Allah sees (clearly) all that ye do. Behold! They come on you form above you and from below you, and behold, the eyes swerved and the hearts gaped up to the throats, and ye imagined various (vain) thoughts about Allah! In that situation were the believers tried: they were shaken us as by a tremendous shaking. And behold! The hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease say: Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions!’ Behold! A party among them said: ‘Ye men of Yathirb! Ye cannot stand (the attack)! Therefore go back!’ And a band of them ask for leave of the Prophet, saying, ‘Truly our houses are bare and exposed.’ Though they were not exposed: they intended nothing but to run away. And if any entry had been effected to them from the sides (of the city), and would certainly have brought it to pass, with none but a brief delay! And yet they had already covenanted with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for. Say; ‘Running away will not profit you if ye are running away from death or slaughter; and even if (ye do escape), no more than a brief (respite) will ye be allowed to enjoy!’ Say: Who is it that can screen you from Allah if it be His wish to give you punishment or to give you mercy?’ Nor will they find for themselves, besides Allah, any protector or helper. Verily Allah knows those among you who keep hack (men) and those who say to their brethren, ‘Come along to us’, but come not to fight except for just a little while, covetous over you. Then when fear comes, thou wilt wee them looking to thee, their eyes revolving, like one who faints from death: but when the fear is past, they will smite you with sharp tongues, covetous of goods. Such men have no faith, and so Allah has made their deeds of none effect: and that is easy for Allah. They think that the Confederates have not withdraw; and if the Confederates should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you (from a safe distance); and if they were in your midst, they would fight but little. Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah and excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the Final Day, and who remembers Allah much. When the believers saw the Confederate forces, they said, ‘This is what Allah and His Messenger had promises us what was true.’ And it only added to their faith and their Zeal in obedience. Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have died and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least: that Allah may reward the men of Truth for their Truth, and punish the hypocrites if that be His will, or turn to them in mercy: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And Allah turned back the unbelievers for (all) their fury: no advantage did they again; and enough is Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in might. And those of the people of the Book who aided them - Allah did take them down from their strongholds and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) some ye slew, and some ye made captives. and He made you heirs of their lands, their houses, and their goods, and of a land which ye had not frequented (before). And Allah has power over all things. (Al-Ahzab: 9-27 “

According to most of the late and early Muslim scholars, the Battle of Al-Ahzab took place in Shawwal, 5 AH.

THE OCCASION OF THE BATTLE

Scholars of Siyrah relate that a number of Jews who had formed a party against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), among whom were Sallam Ibn Al-Huqayq An-Nadri, Huyayy Ibn Akhtab An-Nadri, Kinanah Ibn Abu Al- Hyqayq An-Nadri, and Haudhah Ibn Qays AL-Wa’ili, and ABu Ammar Al-Wa’ili with a number of the tribe of An-Nadr and the tribe of Wa’il went to Quraish at Mecca and invited them to join them in an attack in the Messenger so that they might get rid of him altogether. Quraish said, “You, O Jews, are the first scripture people and know the nature of dispute with Muhammad. Is our religion the best or his?” They replied, “Certainly, your religion is better than his and you had a better claim to be in the right.”

It was about them that Allah, Most High, sent down the following Qur’anc versed,

“Hast thou not turned they thought to those who were given a portion of the book? They believe in sorcery and Taghut and say to the unbelievers that they are better guided in the (right) way than the believers! They are (men) whom Allah has curses: and those whom Allah hath cursed, thou wilt find, have no one to help. (An-Nisa: 51-52).”

These words, consequently, rejoiced Quraish and they responded gladly their invitation to fight the Messenger and they assembled and made their preparations. Then that company of Jews went off to Gattafan of Qays Aylan and invited them to fight the Messenger and told them that they would act with them and that Quraish had follower their lead in the matter; they too joined in with them. Quraish marched under the leadership of Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb; and Ghatafan led by Uyaynah Ibn Hisn Ibn Hudhaifah with the tribe Fuzarah; and Al- Harith Ibn Awf Ibn Harithah Al- Marri with the Tribe of Murra; and Mis’ar Ibn Rukhlah Ibn Nuwayrah Ibn Tarif Ibn Shamah Ibn Abdullah Ibn Hilal Ibn Khalawah Ibn Ashja Ibn Rayth Ibn Gatafan with those his people from Ashja who followed him

MUSLIMS MAKE THEIR PREPARATIONS

When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) heard of the intention of his enemies he drew a trench about Medina. Digging a trench, according to Ibn Hisham, was the suggestion of Salman, the Persian. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) joined the Muslims in digging the trench encouraging the Muslims with the hope of reward in heaven. True Muslims worded very hard with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while the disaffected held back from hem and began to hide their real object by working slackly and stealing away to their families without the Messenger’s permission or knowledge. In this connection, Allah, Most High, revealed the following Qur’anic verses,

“Only those are believers. who believe in Allah and His Messenger: when they are with him an a matter requiring collective action, they do not depart until they have asked for his leave; these who ask for the leave are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, so when they ask for thy leave, for some business of their, give leave to those of them whom thou wilt, and ask Allah for their forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Deem not the summons of the Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another: Allah doth know those of you who slip away under shelter of some excuses: then let those beware who withstand his (the Messenger) order, last some trial befall them or a grievous chastisement be inflicted on them. Be quite sure that to Allah doth belong whatever in the heavens and on earth. Well doth He know what ye are intent upon: and the day they will be brought back to Him, He will tell them the truth of what they did: for Allah doth know all things. (An-Nur: 62-64) “

The Muslims worked at the trench until they had finished it, and they made a jingle about one of the Muslim called Ju’ayl who the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) named Amr.

In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari barrated the following ahadith:

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out towards the Khandaq (trench) and was the Muhajirun and the Ansar digging the trench in the cold morning. They had no slaves to do that (work) for them. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was their hardship and hunger, he said,

“O Allah! The real life is the life of the Hereafter, so please forgive the Ansar and the Muhajirun.”

The said in reply, “We are those who have given the pledge of allegiances to Muhammad for to observe Jihad as long as we live.”

Also, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Muhajirun and the Ansar were digging the trench around Medina and were carrying the earth on their backs while saying; “We are those who have given the pledge of allegiance to Muhammad for Islam as long as we live.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in reply to their saying,

“O Allah! There is no goodness except the goodness of the Hereafter; so please grant Your Blessing to the Ansar and the Muhajirin.”

The people used to bring a handful of barley, and a meal used to be prepared there of by cooking it with a cooking material (oil, fat and butter having a change in color and smell) and it used to be presented to the people (workers) who were hungry, and it used to stick to their throats and had nasty smell.

Sahl Obn Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that we were with Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the trench, and some were digging the trench while we were carrying the earth on our shoulders. Allah’ Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“O Allah! There is no life except the life of the Hereafter, so please forgive the Muhajirun and the Ansar.”

Al-Brar’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported thet the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was carrying earth on the day of Al-Khandaq (trench) until his abdomen was fully covered with dust, and he was saying,

“By Allah, without Allah we would not have been guided, neither would we have given in charity, nor would we have prayed. So (O Allah), please send Sakina (calmness) upon us, and make our feet firm if we meet the enemy as the enemy have rebelled against us, and if they intended affliction (want to frighten us and fight against us), then we would not (feel but withstand them).”
The Prophet used to raise his voice saying

“Abaina! Abaina! (We would not, we would not)

In another narration, Al Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said that when it was the day of Al-Khandaq (i.e., the clans) and Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) dug the trench, I saw him carrying earth out of the trench until dust made the skin of his abdomen out of my sight and he was a hairy man. I heard him reciting the poetic verses composed by Ibn Rawahah while he was carrying the earth,

“O Allah! Without You we would not have been guided, nor would we have given in charity, nor would we have prayed. So, (O Allah), please send Sakina (calmness) upon us and make our feet firm if we meet the enemy, as they have rebelled against us. And if they intend affliction (want to frighten us, and fight against us), then we would not (feel but withstand them).”

The prophet would then prolong his voice at the last words.

MARVELOUS SCENES

Ibn Ashaq said, “I have heard some stories about the digging of the trench in which there is an example of Allah’s justifying His Messenger and confirming his prophetic office, things which the Muslims saw with their eyes.”

In this context, Al-Bykhari narrated on the authority of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the latter said that we were digging (the trench) on the day of Al-Khandaq and we come across a big solid rock. We went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “Here is a rock appearing across the trench.” He said, “I am coming down.” Then he got up, and a stone was tied to his belly for we had not eaten anything for three days. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took the spade and struck the big solid rock and it become like send. I said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Allow me to go home.” (When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) allowed me) I said to my wife, “I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in a state that I cannot treat lightly. Have you got something (for him to eat?)” she replied, “I have barley and a she-got.” So I slaughtered the she-kid and she ground the barley; then we put the meat in the earthenware cooking pot. Then I come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when the dough had become soft and fermented and (the meat in) the pot over the stone trivet had nearly been well-cooked, and said, “I have got a little food prepared, so get up O Allah’s Messenger, you and one or two men along with you (for the food).” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked, “How much is that foods?” I told him about it. He said, “It is abundant and good. Tell your wife not to remover the earthenware pot from the fire and not to take out any bread from the oven until I reach there.” Then he said (to all his Companions), “Get up.” So, the Muhajirun and the Ansar got up. When I come to my wife, I said, “Allah’s Marcy be upon you! The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) come along with the Muhajirun and the Ansar and those who were present with them.” She said, ” Did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ask you (how much food you had)?” I replued, “Yes” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Enter and do not throng.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) started cutting the bread (into Pieces) and put the cooked meat over it. he covered the earthenware pot and the oven whenever he took something out of them. He would give the food to his Companions and take the meat out of the pot. He went on cutting the bread and scooping the meat (for his Companions) until they all ate their fill, and even then, some food remained. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said (to my wife), “Eat and present to other the people are struck with hunger.”

In another narration Jabir Ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that when the trench was dug, I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the state if severe hunger. So I returned to my wife and said, “Have you got anything (to eat), for I have seen Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in as state of severe hunger.” She brought out for me, a bag containing one Sa’ of barley and we had a domestic she-animal which I slaughtered then, and my wife ground the barley and she finished at the time I finished my job. Then I cut the meat into pieces and put it in an earthenware (cooking) pot, and returned to Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). My wife said, “Do not disgrace me in front of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and those who are with him.” So I went to hm and said to him secretly, “O Allah’s Messenger! I have slaughtered a she-animal of ours, and we have ground a Sa’ of barley which was with us. So please come, you and another person along with you.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) raised his voice and said, “O people of trench! Jabir has prepared a meal so let us go.” Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to me, ‘Don’t put down your earthenware meat pot (form fireplace) or bake your dough until I come.” So, I come to my house and Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) too, come, proceeding before the people. When I come to my wife, she said, ‘May Allah do so-and-so to you.” I have told the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) of what you said. “Then she brought out to him the dough, and he spat in it and invoked for Allah’s Blessings in it. Then he proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and spat in it and invoked for Allah’s Blessings in it. Then he said to my wife, “Call a lady baker to bake along with you and keep on taking out scoops from your earthenware meat-pot, and do not put it down from its fireplace.” The were on-thousand (who took their meals), and by Allah they all eat, and when they left the food and went away, our earthenware pot was still bubbling (full of meat) as if it had not decreased, and our dough was still being baked as if nothing had been taken from it.

According to Ishaq, a daughter of Bahir Ibn Sa’d sisterof An-Numan Ibn Bashir said, ‘my mother Arah, daughter of Rawahah, called me and gave me handful of dates which she put in my garment and told me to take them to my father and my uncle Abdullah Ibn Rawahah fro their food. As I went off looking for them I passed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who called me and asked me what I had. When I told him that I was taking the dates to my father and my uncle he told me to give them to him. So I poured them into his hands but they did not fill them then he called of a garment which was laid out for him and threw the dates upon it so that they were scattered on it. Then he told the men to summon the diggers to lunch, and when they come they began to eat and the dates went on increasing until they turned away from them and they were still falling falling from the ends of the garment.

Ibn Ishaq, moreover, narrated on the authority of Salman Al-fasi that the latter said, ”I was working with a pock in the trench where a rock gave me much trouble. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who was near at hand saw me hacking and saw how difficult the place was. He dropped down onto the trench and took the pick from my hand and gave such a below that lighting showed beneath the pick. This happened for a second and a third time. I said, “O you, dearer than father or mother what is the meaning of this light beneath you pick as you strike?’ He said,

“Did you really see that, Salman? The first means that Allah opened up to me the Yemen; the second Syria and the west; and the third the east.”

Abu Hurairah (my Allah be pleased with him) used to say when countries were conquered in the time of Umar and Uthman and after, “Conquer where you will, by Allah, you have not conquered and to the Day of judgment you will not conquer a city but Allah has given its keys beforehand to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).”

In the context, we read in the Sahih of Al-Bukhari the following narrations: Abu Hurairah (my Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“I have been given the keys of eloquent speech and given victory with awe (cast into the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping last night, the keys of the treasures of the earth were brought to me until they were put in my hand.”

Abu Hurairah added, “Allah’s Messenger left (this world) and now you people are carrying those treasures from place to place.” Also Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger said,

“When Chosroes is ruined, there will be no Chosroes after him; and when Caesar after him. By Him in Whose Hands my life is, you will spend their treasures in Allah’s Cause.”

THE CAMP OF QURAISH

When the the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) finished the trench, Quraihs come and encamped where the torrent-beds of Ruma meet between Al-Jurut and Zughabah with then thousand of their black mercenaries and their followers from the tribe of Kinanah and the people of Tuhamah. Ghatafan too come with their followers from Najad and halted at Dhanab Naqma towards the direction of Uhud.

On the other side, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Muslims come out with three thousand men having Sala at their backs. He pitched his camp there with the trench between him and his enemy, and gave orders that the women and children were to be taken up into the forts.

According to Ibn Hisham, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) appointed Ibn Umm Maktum as the ruler of Medina in that period. Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Aishah (my Allah be pleased with him) that the latter said, “As regards the following Qur’anic verse,

“Behold! They came on you from above you and from below you, and behold the eyes swerved and the hearts gaped up to the throats, and ye imagined various (vain0 thoughts about Allah.” (Al-Ahzab: 10) “

The happened on the Day of Al-Khandaq (trench) The Jewish tribe of Bani Quraizha, who had stood by the agreement, was pressed by a Jewish emissary from the enemy to break their promise. Eventually, they agreed to do so and when the news of this reached the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions they were greatly troubled.

Sa’d Ibn Mu’ad, The leader of the trine of Aws, was sent by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with two other men to fine out if this were true. When they arrived in the part of Medina were the Jews lived, they found that things were even worse then they had previously thought. Sa’d Ibn Mu’ad, whose tribe was closely allied with Banu Quraizah, tried to persuade their leader not to break the treaty with the Muslims could not relax their guard for one moment. for they were now threatened not only by the enemy beyond the trench, but by Banu Quraizha, within the walls of the city.

The situation, according to Ibn Ishaq, ceome serious and fear was everywhere. He enemy came at them from above and below until the believers imagined vain things and disaffection was rife among the disaffected to the point the Mu’attib Ibn Quraish, brother of Banu Amr Ibn Awf, said “Muhammad used to promise us that we should eat the treasures of Chosroes and Caesar and today not one of us can feel safe in going to the privy!”

It reached such a point that Aws Ibn Qazi said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Our houses are exposed to the enemy. This he said before a large gathering of his people. So let us go out and return to our home. for it is outside Medina.”

In this context, the Glorious Qur’an says,

And behold! The hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease say: ‘Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions! Behold! A party among them said: ‘Ye men of Yathrib! Ye cannot stand (the attack)! Therefore go back!’ And a band of them ask for leave of the Prophet, saying, Truly our houses are bare and exposed.’ Though they were not exposed: they intended nothing but to run away. (Al_Ahzab: 12-13)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the polytheists remained twenty days and more nearly a month, without fighting except for some shooting with arrows, and the siege. When condition pressed hard upon the people, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wanted to offer Ghatahan a third of the dates of Medina on condition that they would go back and leave him and his men, so peace was made between them so for as the writing of a cocument. the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) consulted both Sa’d Ibn Abadah and Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh, the leaders of Al-Aws and AL-Ghazraj, regarding giving the unbelievers one-third of the fruits of Medina in return of making pace with them. They said. “Oh Messenger of Allah, is it a more plan of you, or a Divine order that we should abide by?” He said, “It is my plan to protect you against the allied forces of Arabs.” Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh said, “Oh Messenger of Allah, we were pagans and those never expected to take anything from the fruits of Medina. Then, Allah has honored us with Islam, guided us to Him and granted us dignity by believing in Him and following You. How could we give them our money! We are in no need of doing so. By Allah, we will give them nothing but swords, i.e., fighting, until Allah judges between us and them.” the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Don according to this?” In the meantime, some horsemen of Quraish, among whom were Amr Ibn Abd Wudd and Ikrimah Ibn abu Jahl, donned their armor and went forth on horseback to the stations of the tribe of Kinanah saying, “Prepare for fighting and then you will know who are true knights today.” They galloped forward until they stopped at the trench. When they saw it, they exclaimed, ‘This is a device that the Arabs have never employed.’

Then they made for a narrow part of the trench and beat their horses so that they dashed trough it and carried them into the swampy ground between the trench and Sal’. Ali with some Muslims came out to hold the gap through which they had forded a passage against (the rest) them and the horsemen galloped to meet them.

Amr Ibn Wudd come out wearing a distinguishing mark to show his rank, and when he and his contingent stopped the challenged anyone to fight him. Ali accepted the challenged and said to him, “Amr, you swore by Allah that if any man of Quraish offered you two alternatives you would accept on of them?” “Yes, I did,” be said. Ali replied, “Then I invite you to Allah and His Messenger and to Islam. “He said that had no use for them. Ali went on, “Then I call you to single combat.” He replied, “O son of my brother, I do not want to kill you.” Ali said, “But I want to kill you.” This so enraged Amr that he got off his horse and hamstrung it and beat its face; then he advanced on Ali, and they fought, the one circling round the other. Ali Killed him and their cavalry fled, bursting headlong on flight across the trench. The situation was so difficult that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions had been prevented from offering the Asr Prayer in its due time.

Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the latter said, “On the day of Al-Khandaq, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“(Let) Allah fill their (i.e., the infidels houses and graves with fire just as they have prevented us from offering the Middle Prayer (Asr Prayer) until the sun had set.”

Al- Bukhari, moreover narrated that Ibn Jabir Ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Umar Ibn Khattab come on the day of Al- Khandaq after the sun had set and he was abusing the infidels of Quraish saying. “O Allah’s Messenger! I was unable to offer the (Asr) Prayer until the sun was about to set.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “By Allah, I have not offered this Asr Prayer.” “So we come down along with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Buthan where he performed ablution for the prayer and then we performed the ablution for it. Then he offered the Asr Prayer after the sun had set, and after it he offered the Maghrib prayer.”

THE PROPHET’S DUA AGAINST QURAISH AND ITS ALLIES

In this context, we read the following narrations in Sahih Al-Bukhari:

Abdullah Ibn Abi Awafah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) invoked evil upon the clans saying,

“Allah, the Revealer of the Holy Book (i.e., the Qur’an), the Quick Taker of the accounts! Please defeat the clams. O Allah! Defeat them and shake them.”

Also, Abdullah (my Allah be pleased with him) reported that whenever Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned from a Ghazwah (battle), Hajj or Umrah, he used to start (saying, “Allahu-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).” Thrice and then he would say,

“None has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone Who has no partners. To Him belongs the Kingdom, all praises are for Him, and He is Able to do all things (Omnipotent). We are returning with repentance (to Allah) worshiping, prostrating, and praising our Lord. Allah has fulfilled His promise, made His slave victorious, and He (Alone) defeated the clans (of infidels).”

HUDHAIFA’S DANGEROUS MISSION

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wanted to know what Quraish was doing by nignt. Hudhaifah was ordered by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to do so.

It has been narrated by Ibrahim on the authority of his father who said, “we were sitting in the company of Hudhaifah. A man said, ‘If had been alive at the time of the Messenger of Allah, I should have fought by his said and should have striven hard for his causes.’ Hudhaifah said, ‘You might have done that (by you should not make a flourish of your enthusiasm). I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the night of the battle of Al-Ahzab and we were gripped by a violent wind and severe cold. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“Hark, the man who (goes reconnoitering and) brings me the news of the enemy shall be ranked with me on the Day Judgment by Allah, Most High.”

We all kept quiet and none of us responded to him. (Again) he said,

“Hark, the man who (goes reconnoitering and) brings me the news of the enemy shall be ranked with me on the Day Judgment by Allah, Most High.”

We all kept quiet and none of us responded to him. He again said,

“Hark, the man who (goes reconnoitering and) brings me the news of the enemy shall be ranked with me on the Day Judgment by Allah, Most High.”

Then he said, “Stand up, Hudhaifah, bring me the news of the enemy!”

When he called me by name, I had not alternative but to stand up. He said,

“go and bring me information about the enemy, and do nothing that may provoke them against me.”

When I left him, I felt warm as if I were walking in a heated bath, until I reached them. When I saw Abu Sufyan warming his back against the fire, I put an arrow in the muddle of the bow, intending to shoot at him, but I recalled the words of “Hark, the man who (goes reconnoitering and) brings me the news of the enemy shall be ranked with me on the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘do not provoke them against me.’ Had I shot at him, I should have hit him. But I returned and (felt warm as if) I were walking in a heated bath. Presenting myself to him, I gave him information about the enemy. When I had done so, I began to feel cold, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wrapped me in a blanket that he had surplus his own requirements and with which he used to cover himself while saying his prayers. So I continued to sleep until it was morning. When it was morning, he aid, “Rise, Oh heavy sleeper!”

THE COMING OF ALLAH’S HELP

Allah, Most High, sent bitter cold wind against the polytheists in the winter nights which upset their cooking-pots and overthrew their tents.

In this connection, Allah, Most High, revealed the following Qur’anic verses,

“O ye who believer! Remember the grace of Allah, (bestowed) on you, when there come down on you hosts (yo overwhelm you): but We sent against them a hurricane and forces that ye was not: but Allah sees (clearly) all that ye do…. And Allah turned back the unbelievers for (all) their fury: no advantage did they gain; and enough is Allah for the believers in their fight. And Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might. (Al-Ahzab: 9-25) “

Al- Bukhari narrated on the authority of Sulaiman Ibn Surd who said, ‘When the clans were driven away, I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying,

“Form now onwards we will go to attack them (the polytheists) and they will not come to attack us, but we will go to them’ “

On the day of Al_Khandiq the following Muslimi wer martyred: Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh, Ans Ibn Aws, Abdullah Ibn Sahl, At-Tufail Ibn Nu’man, The Iabah Ibn Ghanamah and Ka’b Ibn Zaid (may Allah pleased with him all).