VI- Prophet's Biography

Lesson 98

Battle of Trench to Hudaybiyah

[36] The Battle of the Trench

 There was a treaty of mutual defence between the Muslims of Al-Khazraj, and the Jews of Banu An-Nadîr, who lived nearby Al-Madînah. The Jews betrayed their treaty; as they planned to kill the Prophet (SAWS). So the Prophet (SAWS) set off to them in the fourth year after Hijrah (Immigration), till he drove them out of their land. Allah made the Muslims inherit their lands and homes. They went to live in Khaybar later on.

Those Jews did not settle down after that. A group of them went to Makkah. They met the leaders of Quraysh. They reached an agreement with them, and with the tribe of Ghatafân, to wage war against the Muslims.

Quraysh got ready for war, as well as those who followed them from Kinânah. Ghatafân also got ready for war, together with those who followed them from the people of Najd. They all allied together for fighting the Muslims, until they reached 10,000 fighters in total, with Abu-Sufyân as their general leader.

When the Prophet (SAWS) heard about their gathering, he consulted his companions about what can be done to resist them. Salmân Al-Fârisy (the Persian, R.A.) suggested digging a trench in the North side of Al-Madînah, which is the direction of entry to the city. Hence the Muslims dug it.

Quraysh came with the allies, and settled behind the trench, facing the Muslim army of only 300 men. They stayed on this state, exchanging arrow-fight, for twenty-something nights. The Prophet arranged for night guards on the trench, so that the enemy would not invade it at night. He (SAWS) was guarding the most difficult side of it himself.

When the standoff dragged on for so long, a group of the disbelievers invaded through the trench with their horses. Some fell in it and broke their necks; others were challenged by some brave Muslims and were killed. This battle lasted for a whole day. 

[37] The battle of Banu -Qurayzah

 After that, the Prophet (SAWS) learned that the Jews of Banu -Qurayzah, who lived close to Al-Madînah, wanted to break the treaty between them. So the Prophet recalled five hundred men from his army to guard the women and the children In Al-Madînah. When the Muslims knew of Banu -Qurayzah's intentions, their fear and worries increased because the enemy was now surrounding them from the outside and the inside.

 Allah Almighty granted his Messenger (SAWS) someone who went through the enemy lines, dividing them through deception and tricks, until they became hopeless and feared each other. Allah Almighty sent upon them a cold wind in a dark night, which extinguished their fires, and threw away their pots. They left that night, and Allah Almighty ended this hardship in which allies from the Arabs and the Jews got together against the Muslims.

 This incident occurred between the months of Shawwâl and Thul-Qi`dah of the fifth year A.H.. Six Muslims were martyred and three disbelievers were killed.

 When the Prophet (SAWS) returned, he did not take off his armour until he besieged Banu -Qurayzah for their betrayal and for breaking their treaty. This besiege lasted for 25 nights, until they almost were going to perish. They found no other way out except to surrender to whatever the Prophet (SAWS) ruled.

 They agreed to the ruling of their master Sa`d ibn Mu`âdh. He ruled for the killing of men, the enslavement of women and children, and for taking over their booty. The men were locked up in the homes of Al-Ansâr until they were executed in special trenches. They were about seven hundred men.

 This way, Allah has saved the Muslims from the evils of being neighbors to those enemies. Allah is the All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution.  

[38] The Battle of Hudaybiyah and its Treaty 

The Prophet (SAWS) stayed in Al-Madînah after the battle of the trench for the rest of the fifth year A.H.. In the sixth year he set off for Banu -Lihyân, who had killed `Âsim ibn Thâbit and his companions. He found that they were dispersed.

Then, he set off to the tribe of Dhu Qarad in return to their attack on the Prophet’s (SAWS) camels. The enemy ran away after some light fighting that did not last for long.

Then, he (SAWS) set off to Banu Al-Mustaliq, when he knew that they were preparing to fight him. The prohpet (SAWS) defeated  them, and gained from them spoils of money and slaves.

 Then, in the month of Thul-Qi`dah of that year (11<sup>th</sup> month of year 6 A.H.), the Prophet (SAWS) set off to Makkah for `Umrah (minor pilgrimage), and one thousand and five hundred of the Muhâjirîn and the Ansâr set off with him. He (SAWS) took with him the Hady (animals for sacrifice) so that people would know that he did not set off for war. 

The Prophet (SAWS) ordered his companions not to take any weapons with them, except for swords bound to their sheaths, in order not to enter the Holy Mosque with bare swords. 

The Prophet (SAWS) tarvelled with his people until they reached `Asfân, which is a place on the road to Makkah. Someone came up and told the Prophet (SAWS) that Quraysh decided to stop the Muslims from entering Makkah, and that they have prepared for war. They also set off Khâled ibn ul-Walîd with two hundred horsemen to prevent the Muslims from advancing. 

So, the Muslims took another route to Makkah from the South of the city, till they reached the valley of Al-Hudaybiyah. Al-Hudaybiyah is a well near Makkah, after which the valley was named. The Prophet’s camel lied down there, and he (SAWS) ordered his companions to settle down. 

At that time, a messenger from Quraysh came to know from the Muslims why they came. The Prophet (SAWS) told him of his intention. When the messenger  came back to Quraysh, they did not trust him, so they sent off another one who saw the Hady (animals to be sacrificed), and heard the Talbiyah (saying: "Labbayka-llâhumma Labbayk" =Allah, I came to answer your call). So he went back to Quraysh, and said, “These people came for `Umrah (minor pilgrimage), and they should not be prevented. It is not acceptable that others like (the tribes of) Lakhm, Gudhâm, and Himyar can do Pilgrimage, while the son of `Abdul-Mutalib (he meant the Prophet PBUH) is forbidden from the House.” 

Quraysh did not listen to him, and they sent a third messenger who witnessed how deeply the companions of the Messenger (SAWS) respect and love him, so he came back to Quraysh, and talked to them about what he saw. He said, “By Allah, I never saw a king among his people (i.e. so respected and so loved) like Muhammad among his companions.” 

So the people discussed the matter together, and decided to prevent the Muslims from entering Makkah this year, but allow them next year. 

Then the Prophet (SAWS) sent off `Uthmân ibn Affân to them, under the sponsorship (protection) of a man from Banu Ummaya, in order to tell them of his intention. Ten of the Muslims set off with him to visit their relatives in Makkah. Quraysh said, “Muhammad will never enter upon us by force, and without our permission”. Quraysh then prevented `Uthmân  ibn Affân (RA) and those who accompained him from returning. 

A rumor spread among the Muslims that `Uthmân ibn `Affân (R.A.) was killed. So the Prophet (SAWS) asked his companions to grant him a pledge of fighting. They all pledged on fighting. This happened under a tree that was later called the tree of Ar-Ridwân (Fealty). This pledge was also called the Pledge of Ar-Ridwân. The polytheists sent off their spies. The Muslims caught twelve of them as prisoners of war. 

When Quraysh heard of this pledge, they were worried, so they sent one of them to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) to negotiate a reconciliation treaty with him. 

After they let go of `Uthmân (R.A.) and those who were with him, and after the Muslims let go of their prisoners, they agreed with them on four conditions:  

·        No war between the two groups for ten years.

·        The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) and the Muslims are to return this year without entering Makkah. Next year, they will enter it without any weapons except swords in their sheaths. The Muslims will be allowed to stay in Makkah for three days after Quraysh leaves it.

·        Whoever comes to the Muslims from Quraysh should be returned back to them. Quraysh are not required to return back whoever comes to it from the Muslims.

·        Anybody who wants to enter in treaty with the Muslims is allowed to do so. Anybody who wants to enter in treaty with Quraysh is allowed to do so. 

The Prophet dictated `Ali ibn Abu-Tâlib who wrote a transcript of that. 

The Muslims agreed with what the Prophet (SAWS) has agreed on, despite of their grief over some of these conditions. Then the Prophet (SAWS) and the Muslims revoked their Umrah, and returned back to Al-Madînah. 

The Sûrah of Al-Fat-h (the Victory) was revealed on the occasion of this incident.