The Battle of Ahzab

Then there are accounts relating to the Battle of Ahzab which took place in 5AH. This was the third major battle between the Quraish of Mecca and the Muslims and is also known as the Battle of Khandaq [Ditch]. This took place in the month of Shawwal in 5 AH. Since the Quraish and the Jews from Khaibar and various other tribes had all come together in order to attack Medina, therefore this battle is known as the Battle of Ahzab [confederates] in the Holy Quran.

When the Holy Prophet (sa) exiled the Jewish tribe of Banu Nazir, they went towards Khaibar. A few men from among their elders and well-respected people went to Mecca. They gathered the Quraish and incited them to fight against the Holy Prophet (sa). They formed a pact with the Quraish and they all agreed upon fighting against the Holy Prophet (sa) and they also fixed a date for this. These men from the Banu Nazir left the Quraish and then went to the tribes of Ghatfan and Sulaim and entered into a similar pact with them and then departed from there. The Quraish made preparations and also gathered various other tribes as well as those Arabs who were their confederates, totalling 4,000. Abu Sufyan bin al-Harb was their commander.

Along the way, various other tribes also joined with them and the total number of people in the army was 10,000. The Holy Prophet (sa) was informed of their departure from Mecca and so he gathered his companions. The Holy Prophet (sa) informed them of the enemy’s plan and sought counsel from them. Hazrat Salman, the Persian, presented the suggestion of digging a ditch, which was liked by all the Muslims.

In the time of the Holy Prophet (sa), the north of Medina was an open plain, whilst all other sides had houses and orchards through which the enemy could not get through. And so, it was decided to dig a ditch towards the north of Medina in order to protect the city. The Holy Prophet (sa) along with 3,000 Muslims started to dig the ditch. The Holy Prophet (sa) was digging the ditch alongside the other Muslims so that his participation would raise their spirits and courage. The entire ditch was dug in six days. This ditch was approximately 6,000 yards or 3.5 miles long.

(Ibn Sa‘d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 2, Bab Ghazwah Rasulullahsa al-Khanqad… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2017], pp. 50-51) (Shawqi Abu Khalil, Atlas Sirat Nabawi (sa) [Darul Islam, 1424AH], p. 278)

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) remained alongside the Holy Prophet (sa). Whilst digging the ditch, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would carry the sand in his clothes and he worked alongside the other companions in digging the ditch so that this task could be quickly completed within the period of time designated for this.

(Ali Muhammad al-Salabi, Al-Khalifah al-Awwal Abu Bakr Siddique, Fi al-Khandaq wa Bani Quraizah [Beirut, Lebanaon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], pp. 65-66)

No Muslim remained behind in helping to dig the ditch. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra) could not find any baskets to carry the sand, they would place it in their clothes. They both remained together at all times.

(Mustafa ‘Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-‘Ibad, Vol. 4 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 365)

The Holy Prophet (sa) worked extremely hard during the digging of the ditch. Sometimes he would be digging with a pick-axe or he would gather the sand with a shovel or then carry the baskets of sand. One day the Holy Prophet (sa) became extremely tired and sat down and rested his left side against a rock. During this time, the Holy Prophet (sa) fell asleep and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra) stood near the Holy Prophet (sa) and would stop people from walking past him, lest they wake him up.

(Mustafa ‘Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-‘Ibad, Vol. 4 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 367)

When the 10,000 strong army of the Quriash and their allies surrounded Medina, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was commanding one faction of the Muslim army. Later, in the area where Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was commanding the army, a mosque was built and was called Masjid Siddiq.

(Al-Haaj Hakim Ghulam Nabi, Sayyiduna Siddique Akbar [Lahore, Pakistan: RR Printers, 2010], p. 41)