Battle of the Trench

The Battle of the Trench ( ) also known as Battle of Ahzab, Battle of the Confederates and Siege of Medina ( ), was a fortnight-long siege of Yathrib (now Medina ) by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of the confederate armies is estimated around 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels, while the Median numbered 3000. The battle began on March 31, 627. The outnumbered defenders of Medina, mainly Muslims led by Islamic prophet Muhammad , opted to dig and fight from a trench rather than face the tribes in the open. The trench together with Medina's natural fortifications rendered the confederate cavalry (consisting of horses and camels ) useless, locking the two sides in a stalemate. Hoping to make several attacks at once, the confederates persuaded the Banu Qurayza to attack the city from the south. However, Muhammad's diplomacy derailed the negotiations, and broke up the confederacy against him. The well-organized defenders, the sinking of confederate morale, and poor weather conditions caused the siege to end in a fiasco . The siege was a "battle of wits", in which the Muslims tactically overcame their opponents while suffering very few casualties. Efforts to defeat the Muslims failed, and Islam became influential in the region. As a consequence, the Muslim army besieged the neighbourhood of the Banu Qurayza tribe , leading to their unconditional surrender . Upon their surrender,according to the Jewish Holy book, the Prophet had the males of the tribe beheaded and buried in trenches in the market square, while the women and children were enslaved . The defeat caused the Meccans to lose their trade and much of their prestige.

The Muhajirun of various origins including significant portions of Quraysh Immigrants and Banu Qais Confederates including the Pagan Quraysh of Mecca the Jewish/Arab tribes of Banu Qaynuqa ,and Banu Nadir Other Pagan Arab tribes such as Banu Murra , Khaybar , Huyyay ibn Auf Murri , Banu Ghatafan , Bani Assad , Banu Shuja , and more (see Confederates ) Commanders and leaders Muhammad Ali Ibn Abi Talib Abu Sufyan Strength 3,000 10,000 Casualties and losses Light Extremely heavy Site Battle of Trench, Medina Mosque Salaman pharsi, battle of trench, Medina The Battle of the Trench ( ) also known as the Battle of the Confederates ( ), was a fortnight-long siege of Yathrib (now Medina ) by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of the confederate armies is estimated around 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels, while the Medinan defenders numbered 3,000. The battle began on March 31, 627. The largely outnumbered defenders of Medina, mainly Muslims led by Islamic prophet Muhammad , dug a trench, which together with Medina's natural fortifications, rendered the confederate cavalry (consisting of horses and camels ) useless, locking the two sides in a stalemate. Hoping to make several attacks at once, the confederates persuaded the Muslim-allied Medinian Jews, Banu Qurayza , to attack the city from the south. However, Muhammad's diplomacy derailed the negotiations, and broke up the confederacy against him. The well-organized defenders, the sinking of confederate morale, and poor weather conditions caused the siege to end in a fiasco. The siege was a "battle of wits", in which the Muslims tactically overcame their opponents while suffering very few casualties. Efforts to defeat the Muslims failed, and Islam became influential in the region. As a consequence, the Muslim army besieged the area of the Banu Qurayza tribe , leading to their surrender and the execution of all their men. The defeat caused the Meccans to lose their trade and much of their prestige.

Failed besieging of early Muslims by Arab and Jewish forces in year 627 AD Belligerents Muslims Including The Ansar of Khazraj and Aws The Muhajirun of various origins including significant portions of Quraysh Immigrants and Banu Qais Confederates including the Quraysh tribe of Mecca the Jewish/Arab tribes of Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadir Other Arab tribes such as Banu Murra , Khaybar , Huyyay ibn Auf Murri , Banu Ghatafan , Bani Assad , Banu Shuja , and more (see Confederates ) Commanders and leaders Muhammad Ali Ibn Abi Talib Salman the Persian 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit Abu Sufyan Amr ibn Abd al-Wud † Tulayha Strength 3,000 10,000 Casualties and losses 1~5 people (Reportedly 4) Light 10 people Extremely heavy Map depicting Battle of the Trench (Battle of Khandak) with advance detailing. Site of the Battle of the Trench, Medina Mosque Salman pharsi, Battle of the Trench, Medina Battle of the Trench ( Medina ) Battle of Khandaq (Battle of the Trench) The Battle of the Trench ( ), also known as the Battle of Khandaq ( ) and the Battle of the Confederates ( ), was a 30-day-long siege of Yathrib (now Medina ) by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of the confederate armies is estimated around 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels, while the Medinan defenders numbered 3,000. The largely outnumbered defenders of Medina, mainly Muslims led by Islamic Prophet Muhammad , dug a trench on the suggestion of Salman the Persian , which together with Medina's natural fortifications, rendered the confederate cavalry (consisting of horses and camels ) useless, locking the two sides in a stalemate. Hoping to make several attacks at once, the confederates persuaded the Muslim-allied Medinan Jews, Banu Qurayza , to attack the city from the south. However, Muhammad's diplomacy derailed the negotiations, and broke up the confederacy against him. The well-organised defenders, the sinking of confederate morale, and poor weather conditions caused the siege to end in a fiasco. The siege was a "battle of wits", in which the Muslims tactically overcame their opponents while suffering very few casualties. Efforts to defeat the Muslims failed, and Islam became influential in the region. As a consequence, the Muslim army besieged the area of the Banu Qurayza tribe , leading to their surrender. The defeat caused the Meccans to lose their trade and much of their prestige.

Failed besieging of early Muslims by Arab and Jewish forces in 627 CE This article is about the event in early Islamic history. The Ansar of Khazraj and Aws The Muhajirun of various origins including significant portions of Quraysh Immigrants and Banu Qays Confederates including the Quraysh tribe of Mecca the Jewish/Arab tribes of Banu Qurayza and Banu Nadir Other Arab tribes such as Banu Murra , Khaybar , Huyyay ibn Auf Murri , Banu Ghatafan , Bani Assad , Banu Shuja , and more (see Confederates ) Commanders and leaders Muhammad Ali Ibn Abi Talib Salman the Persian 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit Abu Sufyan Amr ibn Abd al-Wud † Tulayha Strength 3,000 10,000 7,500 (Watt’s Estimate) Casualties and losses 5–6 3 Location within Saudi Arabia Site of the Battle of the Trench, Medina The Battle of the Trench ( ), also known as the Battle of Khandaq ( ) and the Battle of the Confederates ( ), was part of the conflict between the Muslims and the Quraysh , where this time the Quraysh took the offensive and advanced on the Muslims , who defended themselves in Medina by digging a trench around their settlement at the suggestion of Salman the Persian . The battle, which took place in 627 and lasted around two weeks, was lightly fought, with the Muslims reported to have suffered five to six casualties and the Quraysh three. The Quraysh, tired of seeing the Islamic prophet Muhammad continue to raid and plunder their trade caravans despite his defeat at the Battle of Uhud , decided to occupy his city base, Medina. Realizing that they had little military capability as they were only merchants, they negotiated vigorously with the Bedouins to get them to join the campaign. The Banu Nadir , whom Muhammad had previously expelled from Medina, were also part of this effort, to the extent that they offered the Bedouins half of their crops in Khaybar to persuade them to take part. In the end, they reportedly managed to gather a confederate force of 10,000 men ( Watt estimates less than 7,500), including Banu Ghatafan , Banu Sulaym , and Banu Asad . On the other hand, Muhammad, having learned of the impending Quraysh advance, took the advice of Salman the Persian to have his followers make a deep trench to impede their movement. The Banu Qurayza gave them help by lending them equipment for the digging. When the Quraysh approached, they were unfamiliar with this tactic and struggled to get beyond the trench. As the siege gradually dragged on, Muhammad used the time to negotiate secretly with the Banu Ghatafan, cleverly sowing distrust among his opponents. After about two weeks, the weather deteriorated and the invading party withdrew. The battle caused the Meccans to lose their trade to Syria and much of their prestige. Whereas for Muhammad, he was then reportedly visited by Gabriel , who directed him to attack the Banu Qurayza, which led to the slaughter and enslavement of its population by the Muslims. Hoyland 2015 , The Battle of the Ditch (Trench). Hoyland 2015 , The slaughter of Banu Qurayza. Bukay 2017 , Slavery and Rape.

Failed siege of Medina in 627 CE This article is about the event in early Islamic history. The First Islamic State including The Ansar of Khazraj and Aws The Muhajirun of various origins including significant portions of Quraysh Immigrants and Banu Qays Confederates including the Quraysh tribe of Mecca the Jewish/Arab tribes of Banu Qurayza and Banu Nadir Other Arab tribes such as Banu Murra , Khaybar , Huyyay ibn Auf Murri , Banu Ghatafan , Bani Assad , Banu Shuja , and more (see Confederates ) Commanders and leaders Muhammad Ali Ibn Abi Talib Salman the Persian 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit Sa'd ibn Mu'adh ( WIA ) Abu Sufyan Amr ibn Abd al-Wud † Tulayha Uyayna ibn Hisn Strength 3,000 10,000 7,500 (Watt's estimate) Casualties and losses 5 – 6 3 Location within Saudi Arabia Site of the Battle of the Trench, Medina The Battle of the Trench ( Arabic : غزوة الخندق , romanized : Ghazwat al-Khandaq ), also known as the Battle of Khandaq ( Arabic : معركة الخندق , romanized : Ma’rakah al-Khandaq ) and the Battle of the Confederates ( Arabic : غزوة الاحزاب , romanized : Ghazwat al-Ahzab ), was part of the conflict between the Muslims and the Quraysh . The Quraysh advanced towards the Muslims , who defended themselves in Medina by digging a trench around their settlement at the suggestion of Salman the Persian . The battle took place in 627 and lasted around two weeks, resulting in five to six casualties reported by the Muslim, and three casualties amongst the Quraysh. The Quraysh decided to instigate, but they soon realised that they had little military capability as they were merchants. This prompted them to negotiate with the Bedouins in order to get them to join the campaign. The Banu Nadir , whom Muhammad had previously expelled from Medina, were also part of this effort and offered the Bedouins half of their crops in Khaybar to persuade them to participate. They reported to have gathered a confederate force of between 7,500 and 10,000 men, including Banu Ghatafan , Banu Sulaym , and Banu Asad . Muhammad, having learned of the impending Quraysh advance, took the advice of Salman the Persian to have his followers make a deep trench to impede the opponent's movement. When the Quraysh approached, they were unfamiliar with this tactic and struggled to get beyond the trench. Muhammad used the time to negotiate secretly with the Banu Ghatafan, sowing distrust among his opponents. After about two weeks, the weather deteriorated and the invading party withdrew. Consequently, the Muslims besieged the Qurayza, and upon the latter's unconditional surrender , its men were killed and women and children enslaved. The battle caused the Meccans to lose their trade to Syria and much of their prestige.