غزوة الخندق / الأحزاب
The Battle of the Trench (Al-Khandaq / Al-Ahzab)
Shawwal, 5 AH (627 CE)
Northern approach to Madinah شمال المدينة
A massive coalition of 10,000 warriors from the Quraysh, Ghatafan, and other tribes marched on Madinah. On the advice of Salman al-Farisi, the Muslims dug a trench around the vulnerable northern approach to the city — a tactic unknown to the Arabs. The 3,000 Muslim defenders held the trench while the coalition laid siege for approximately one month. Allah sent a fierce wind and unseen forces that scattered the enemy camp, and they retreated in disarray.
Why this matters
This was the last major offensive by the Quraysh against Madinah. The Prophet ﷺ himself dug the trench alongside the Companions, sharing their hunger and hardship. During the digging, a massive rock was struck by the Prophet ﷺ and sparks flew, and he prophesied the conquest of Persia, Rome, and Yemen. After this battle, the Prophet ﷺ declared: 'Now we will march to them, and they will not march to us.'
Quran references
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَآءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌۭ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا وَجُنُودًۭا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا
Surah Al-Ahzab, 9-11
O you who believe, remember the favor of Allah upon you when armies came to you, and We sent upon them a wind and forces you did not see.
Hadith references
Sahih al-Bukhari, #4109
Narrated by: Sahl ibn Sa'd
“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the Trench, and they were digging while we were carrying the soil on our shoulders. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'O Allah, there is no life except the life of the Hereafter, so forgive the Ansar and the Muhajirun.'”