Again the Jews of An-Nadir wanted to take their revenge on the Prophet. Some of them settled north with the other Jewish tribe in Khaybar. So the leaders of the Jews of An-Nadir as well as of haybar went to Quraysh and urged them to attack Al-Madinah again to destroy the city and eradicate ¹⁶ Islam.

Quraysh was happy to have the Jews around Al- Madinah as allies, together with other non-Muslim tribes in Najd as part of their expedition against Al -Madinah, which took place in Shawwal in the fifth year of Hijrah.

The Prophet realized that Quraysh and the other Arab tribes were determined "to hurl at them with one bow". So he consulted with the Companions who kept silent for a while. Then finally Salman addressed the Prophet saying, "O, Messenger of Allah, in Persia when we feared the attack of cavalry, we would surround ourselves with a trench. So let us dig a trench about us now." The Prophet and the Companions agreed to the suggestion, and they started digging it around Al-Madinah.

The Muslims were only three thousand, who encamped outside of the town, with the trench separating them from the enemy. Quraysh came with more than ten thousand, and they were joined by the Najdi tribe of Ghatafan. They all encircled the city from all directions, except from the south-east where the fortresses of Banu Quraythah blocked the way.

The leader of Quraysh was Abu Sufyan, with Khalid again on the cavalry; but there was no hope of crossing the trench. So they thought of seeking the help of Banu Quraythah, with whom the Prophet had concluded a treaty of mutual defence.

Then Huyayy Ibn Akhtab of Banu-n-Nadir went to Ka'b Ibn Asad, the chief of Banu Quraythah and urged him to renounce the agreement with the Prophet, and join forces with Abu Sufyan and his Confederates, ²¹  since all these enemy forces were determined on the total destruction of Al-Madinah. After some hesitation, Ka'b Ibn Asad agreed to renounce ²² his pact with the Prophet; and now there was real danger with all these forces completely surrounding Al-Madinah.

The Prophet sent two leaders of the Helpers to make sure whether Banu Quraythah had actually broken their pact with him. He told them that if the treachery is true, they would inform him in a subtle ²³  way; but if Banu Quraythah are still loyal to their agreement, they would speak out before the people. The instructions were clearly intended to preserve the  morale ²⁴  of the Muslim army, who began to show traces ²⁵  of the effect of the siege.

Then the Prophet thought of negotiating ²⁶  with Ghatafan,the Najdi tribe stationed with Quraysh round Al-Madinah. He intended to send to the leaders of Ghatafan offering them a third of the dates of Al- Madinah on condition that they would go back with their followers and leave Quraysh alone surrounding Al-Madinah.

Before the treaty with Ghatafan was written down, the Prophet sent to the two leaders of the Helpers and asked them their advice. They said, "Is it a thing you want us to do, or something Allah has ordered you to do which we must carry out? Or is it something you are doing for us?" The Prophet said, "It is something I am doing for your sake. By Allah I would not do it were it not that I have seen the Arabs have shot at you from one bow, and gathered against you from every side and I want to break their offensive  ²⁷against you." Sa'd lbn Mu'ath readily answered, "We and these people were polytheists ²⁸  and idolaters, not worshipping Allah nor knowing Him, and they never hoped to eat a single date (of ours) except as guests or by purchase. Now, after `Allah has honoured and guided us to Islam and made us mighty by you, are we to give them our property? We certainly will not. We will give them nothing but the sword until Allah decides between us." Then the Prophet said, "You shall have it so." So the Prophet agreed to Sa'd's opinion and no contacts with Ghatafan took place.

The days passed, and the Muslims were beginning to feel the results of the siege, with the enemy on all sides, and the enemy cavalry intent on crossing the trench at its narrowest point. Four horsemen did succeed in crossing that narrow part of the trench; among them was `Amr Ibn Wudd, who was a valiant warrior. Now `Amr challenged anyone  ²⁹ to fight him, and `Ali accepted the challenge <sup>30</sup>. The Prophet tried to stop `All from fighting `Amr, but `Ali was intent on fighting him.

The encounter between the two heroes has been reported to have gone on like this:

Bali: "Don't be in a hurry. No weakling has come to answer your challenge."

`Amr: "Who are you.

Bali: "I am 'Ail"

`Amr: "Let it be one of your uncles who is older than you, my nephew, for I don't want to shed ³¹ your blood."

Bali: "But I do want to shed your blood."

`Amr: (getting angry and drawing his sword. He was still mounted). Bali: "How can I fight you when you are on a horse? Dismount and be on a level with me." `Amr: (dismounts  ³² and advances towards Bali and aiming a blow into Bali's shield). Bali: (giving `Amr a blow on the vein at the base of the neck). `Amr: (falls to the ground, fatally ³³ wounded). Bali, and the Muslims who saw the fight cried: "Allah Akbar" Bali: (going back towards the Prophet smiling with joy, he was asked by `Umar). `Umar: "Didn't you strip him of his armor? It is among the best that could be found among the Arabs." Bali: "When I had struck him down, he turned his private parts towards me and I felt ashamed to despoil ³⁴ him. He had also said that he did not want to shed my blood because my father was a friend of his."

The Prophet felt that the days were passing without much fighting. Among the Muslims only Sad Bin Mu'ath was fatally wounded. But the Muslims began to feel the weight of hunger and weariness ³⁵ in spite of their steadfast endurance. They also knew that the enemy was feeling also the shortage  ³⁶ of pasture ³⁷ and provisions. At that time came Nu'aym of the tribe of Ash'. He was not a confirmed polytheist and he began to have sympathy and admiration for the men of the new religion who have shown glorious ³⁸  resistance to an army more than three times their strength.

He had already inwardly ³⁹ become a Muslim, when he came to ask to see the Prophet after the proposed alliance with Ghatafan was abandoned.

When he was taken to the Prophet, the Prophet asked him why he had come. Nu'aym answered, "I have come to declare my belief in Allah and testify that you have brought us the truth. So bid me to do what you will, O, Messenger of Allah, for you have only to command me, and I will fulfil your orders. My people and others know nothing about my Islam".

"To the utmost ⁴⁰ of your power", said the Prophet, "Set them at odds with each other." Nu'aym asked permission to lie and the Prophet said, "Say what you wish to draw them off from us, for war is deception." So Nu'aym went off to Banu Quraythah with whom he had always been friendly, and said, "Quraysh and Ghatafan are not like you: the land is your land; your property, your wives and your children are in it; you cannot leave it and go somewhere else." He went on to remind them that if Quraysh failed to de story Al-Madinah, then Banu Quraythah would be left alone to face the Prophet. "So do not fight along with these people (Quraysh)", Nu'aym went on, "Until you take hostages ⁴¹ from their chiefs who will remain in your hands as security that they will fight Muhammad with you until you make an end of him." Banu raythah found that this was an excellent advice and promised not to tell u'aym's people or Quraysh that he had given them that advice Then Nu'aym went to Quraysh and told Abu Sufyan that the Jews had regretted their action in opposing the Prophet and had sent to tell him so, saying would you like us to get hold of some chiefs of the two tribes Quraysh and Ghatafan and hand them over to you so that you can cut their heads off? Then we can join you in exterminating ⁴² the rest of them." He also told them that the Prophet had sent word back to accept their offer; and Nu'aym concluded, "So if the Jews send to you to demand hostages, don't send them a single man."

Finally, Nu'aym went to his tribe Ghatafan and told them the same story that he had told Quraysh.

Then Quraysh began to be suspicious ⁴³ of Bani Quraythah. But Quraysh sent word to Bani Quraythah that it was time to make a final attack on Al-Madinah; and Banu Quraythah asked for hostages from Quraysh. That proved that Nu'aym's words were true, and that the Jews had betrayed them; and Quraysh refused to give some of their chiefs as hostages to Bani Quraythah.

Nearly two weeks had passed and the armies of Quraysh and Chatafan were suffering from lack of provisions and the death of their horses and camels. For three days the Prophet used to offer this supplication, "O, Allah, Revealer of the Book, Swift Caller to account, turn the Confederates to flight and cause them to quake."

Then came the cold wind from the east with torrents ⁴⁴ of rain which forced every man to take shelter.⁴⁵ The forces of nature were all against the invading armies; and throughout their camps not one tent was left standing nor any fire left burning, and the men were shivering with cold. After nearly a month, the enemy army led by Abu Sufyan broke camp and moved off. But the Prophet and the Muslims waited until dawn. After dawn prayer, the light of the day revealed the total emptiness of the plain after the departure ⁴⁶ of the enemy. The Muslims were given permission by the Prophet to go back to their homes. The Prophet and the few Companions escorting  ⁴⁷ him were the last Muslims to leave the field of battle.

The thirty third Surah of Al-Qur'an (verses 9-25) describes the situation during the battle of the Trench. The strain on the believers is described in this way:

"O you who have believed remember Allah's favour upon you when (enemy) hosts came upon you; so we sent upon them wind and (angel) hosts you did not see. And Allah was Discerner of what you did." (Al-Ahzab-9).

"When they came from above you and from under you, and when eyesight swerved, and when hearts rose up into larynxes, and you were thinking (strange) thoughts about Allah" (Al- Ahzab- 10).

"Then the believers were tried, and they were quaked a severe quaking". (Al-Ahzab-11).

Then the verses speak of those who wavered ⁴⁸ and wanted to withdraw from the battle on the pretext ⁴⁹ that their houses were exposed to enemy attack, while the Prophet is described as the ideal for every Muslim in times of war and peace.

"There has been a fair example for you in the Messenger of Allah; for those who hope for (reward) from Allah, and on the Hereafter, and those who remember Allah much." (Al-Ahzab-21).

The steadfast among the believers were given a special mention in the following verse:

"And when the believers saw the Confederates (parties) they said, `This is what Allah and His Messenger have promised us. And Allah and His Messenger have spoken (truth) faithfully. And it only increased them (the believers) in belief and submission". (Al-Ahzab-22).

The failure of the disbelievers' plan is further mentioned:

"And Allah has sent back the disbelievers with their fury and they did not attain any good; and Allah was a sufficient (Protector) to the believers from fighting. And Allah has been Strong Mighty". (Al-Ahzab-25).

When the Prophet went to Al-Madinah, he and his Companions performed the noon prayer, after which Jibril (Gabriel) was sent to him and asked him if he had abandoned fighting; and the Prophet answered, "Yes." Then Jibril said, Allah commands you to go to Bani Quraythah. I am about to go to shake their stronghold. ⁵⁰ The Prophet then ordered that none should perform the afternoon prayer until they had reached Bani Quraythah. The banner was given to Ali and the Prophet set out afterwards with the majority of his army until they reached a well on the way to Bani Qurauthah where they performed the afternoon prayer. They waited there until the remaining part of the army joined them. Some did not even arrive except after the last evening prayer, not having prayed the afternoon prayer because the Prophet had told them not to do so until he got to Bani Quraythah. They had been much occupied with warlike preparations and they refused to pray until they came to Bani Quraythah in accordance ⁵¹ with his instructions; and they prayed the afternoon prayer there after the last evening prayer. Allah did not blame ⁵² them for that in His Book, nor did the Prophet reproach ⁵³ them.

Banu Quraythah were besieged for twenty five days. Then they sent to the Prophet to ask him to let them consult ⁵⁴ Aba Lubabah, a Companion from the Muslim tribe of Aws. Aba Lubabah advised them to surrender, ⁵⁵  but, because he was softened  ⁵⁶ by the sight of their wailing  ⁵⁷ women and children, he indicated to them, by pointing at his throat, that surrender would mean death. Soon Aba Lubabah realized that he had betrayed his trust by pointing to his throat. "My two feet had not moved from where they were", he said, "Before I was aware that I had betrayed the Messenger of Allah". His face changed color and he recited the verse:

"Surely we are for Allah, and surely to Him are we returning." (Al-Baqarah-156).

He went back to Al-Madinah, and into the Mosque, where he bound himself to one of the pillars, saying, "I will not stir from this place until Allah accept my repentance for what I did."   When the Prophet heard what had happened to Abu Lubabah, he said, "If he had come to me I would have prayed Allah to forgive him; but seeing that he had behaved as he did, it is not for me to free him until Allah shall accept his repentance": ⁵⁸

Abu Lubabah remained at the pillar for more than ten days, after which came forgiveness from Allah to him. He was so overjoyed ⁵⁹ that he insisted on being freed ⁶⁰  by the Prophet himself. When the Prophet passed by him as he was going out to prayer, he set him free.

At last Banu Quraythah opened the gates of their fortresses and submitted ⁶¹ to the Prophet's judgment. The men, seven hundred or so, were led out with their hands bound behind their backs, and the women and children were assembled, and the Prophet put them in the charge of Abdullah Ibn Salam, the former chief rabbi of the Bani Qaynuqa'. The arms and armour were also collected; and the jars of wine were opened and their contents poured away. The Muslim tribe of Aws asked the Prophet to show leniency  ⁶²  to Bani Quraythah who had been their former allies. The Prophet agreed to have Sa'd Ibn Mu' ath, the leader of the `Aws tribe to give judgment on the Jews.

But Sa'd was a man of justice; like `Umar he had been against sparing  ⁶³ the prisoners at Badr, and their opinion had been confirmed by the Revelation. Many men of Quraysh who had been ransomed at Badr had come out against the Muslims in Al-Madinah at Uhud and again at the Trench. So past experience was not an argument for leniency. It was Sa'd who had come to Bani Quraythah to remind them of their pact with the Prophet, but they insisted on breaking it when they saw that the defeat of the Muslims was certain.   So Sa'd, after he had got his acceptance from his tribe as well as from the Prophet, said, "Then I judge that the men shall be killed, the property divided, and the women and children made captive." The Prophet said to him, "You have judged with the judgement of Allah from above the seven heavens."

Al-Qur'an aptly mentions the fate  ⁶⁴ of Bani Quraythah in these words: The land which the Muslims had not trodden ⁶⁵ may be interpreted to mean all land gained by Muslims ever since.

"And He (Allah) brought down those of the Scripture people who backed them from their stronghold, and he cast terror into their hearts; some you killed and some you captured." (Al-Ahzab-26).

"And He caused you to inherit their land and their dwellings, and their property, and a land you have not trodden (Khaybar), and Allah has determined all things". (Al-Ahzab-27).

The land which the Muslims had not trodden ⁶⁵ may be interpreted to mean all land gained by Muslims ever since.

Ibn Ubayy was the head of his tribe, who together with the other residents of Al-Madinah welcomed the Prophet when he first came to the city. Out of courtesy  ⁶⁶ at first, Ibn Ubbay used to stand before the Prophet gave his Friday sermon and to urge ⁶⁷  the people of Al-Madinah to follow the Prophet, and fight his  enemies with him. But after the decisive ⁶⁸  battles of the Prophet, he began to show his disaffection ⁶⁹  and sedition; ⁷⁰  and for this he has been called the head of the hypocrites.

Six months after the surrender of Bani Quraythah, the Prophet led a small company of Muslims to punish Bani Lihyan for having killed Khubayb and his party and then another company to punish' `Uyaynah Ibn Hisn at a place called Thi Qarad. Uyaynah Ibn Hisn had raided the out-skirts of Al-Madinah and killed a Muslim and taken away his wife and camel.

A third company of Muslims were led by the Prophet to fight Banil-Mustaliq who were preparing to attack Al-Madinah. Many men of that tribe were killed and many others were taken captives. Among the women captives was Juwayriyah, daughter of their leader, Al-Harith. She later became a wife of the Prophet. After her marriage with the Prophet, a hundred families of her people were released from captivity.