Courage at the Battle of Khandaq

The Battle of Khandaq took place in Shawwal, 5 AH. On this occasion, when the army of the disbelievers had surrounded Medina, the chieftains agreed that they would launch an attack in unison. They began searching for a narrow path in the ditch through which their cavalry could pass and reach the Holy Prophet (sa) and his Companions, but they were unable to locate such a place. They said that this is a strategy which till today has never been used in Arab lands. They were told that the Holy Prophet (sa) had a Persian companion who suggested this idea. The disbelievers then said that this must be his suggestion.

Thereafter, they reached a narrow passage of the ditch, which the Muslims were unaware of and Ikramah bin Abi Jahl, Naufal bin Abdillah, Durar bin Khattab, Hubairah bin Abi Wahab and Amr bin Abd Wudd passed through this passage. In order to call out and challenge the Muslims, Amr bin Abd Wudd recited the following couplets:

وَلَقَدْ‭ ‬بَحِحْتُ‭ ‬مِنَ‭ ‬النِّدَاءِ‬‬‬ لِجَمْعِهِمْ‭ ‬هَلْ‭ ‬مِنْ‭ ‬مُبَارِزْ‬‬‬

“I have lost my voice, constantly crying out to the other party, saying, ‘Will anyone come and challenge me?’”

In response to this, Hazrat Ali (ra) recited the following couplets:

لَا‭ ‬تَعْجَلَنَّ‭ ‬فَقَدْ‭ ‬اَتَاكَ‬‬‬ مُجِيْبُ‭ ‬صَوْتِكَ‭ ‬غَيْرُ‭ ‬عَاجِزْ‬‬‬ فِيْ‭ ‬نِيَّةٍ‭ ‬وَ‭ ‬بَصِيْرَةٍ‬‬‬ وَالصِّدْقُ‭ ‬مَنْجٰي‭ ‬كُلِّ‭ ‬فَائِزْ‬‬‬ اِنِّيْ‭ ‬لَاَرْجُوْ‭ ‬اَنْ‭ ‬اُقِيْمَ‬‬‬ عَلَيْكَ‭ ‬نَائِحَةَ‭ ‬الْجَنَائِزْ‬‬ مِنْ‭ ‬ضَرْبَةٍ‭ ‬نَجْلَاءَ‭ ‬يَبْقَي‬‬‬ ذِكْرُهَا‭ ‬عِنْدَ‭ ‬الْهَزَاهِزْ‬‬

“Do not show haste, for the one to answer your call has come, who shall never show weakness nor any frailty.

“Firm resolve, complete sagacity and remaining resolute in the battleground with unwavering resolve is key to each successful victory.

“Indeed, I expect to gather those who wail over a deceased one, to lament over you;

“Whilst causing such a deep wound, which shall be etched in the history of wars.”

When Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (ra) said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, I shall go and challenge him”, the Holy Prophet (sa) handed his sword to him, tied his turban for him and supplicated, “O Allah, grant Your support against him” (i.e. against Amr bin Abd Wudd). Hazrat Ali (ra) then went forth to confront him. They both approached one another and the dust between them flew up as they battled. Hazrat Ali (ra) struck him and killed him. He then exclaimed “Allahu Akbar” [Allah is the Greatest], from which they understood that Hazrat Ali (ra) had slain him. Those with Amr bin Abd Wudd fled and were only able to save themselves because of their horses.

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 573) (Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 2, Ghazwat Rasul (sa) Allah al-Khandaq wa hiya Ghazwat al-Ahzab [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1996], 283) (Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 4, Ghazwat al-Khandaq wa hiya Ghazwat al-Ahzab [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001] 115)