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Introduction
The battle of the Trenches or AHZAB was a decisive battle of Islamic history. It was fought during the month of ZAKAT 5 HURA (February 623) between a formidable force of idolaters (10000 well armed) and an ill armed Muslim force of about 3000. The idolaters of MECCA with underhand intrigues had also established contact with the Jews (BANU NADHIR) who had been expelled from MEDINA for their treachery, the BANU GATAFAN tribes of Bedouin Arabs and the Jewish tribe of BANU QURAIZA. These tribes had joined hands with the pagans of MECCA for the destruction of the Muslims of MEDINA.
On the recommendation of Hazrat SALMAN FARSI, a trench was dug around the base of MEDINA to protect all the approaches. The pagans of MECCA had failed to annihilate the Muslim base of MEDINA in the battle of UHUD, SHAW AL 3 HURA. It was a set back for the Muslims due to the rebellion of ABDULLAH BIN UBAI, the hypocrite who had withdrawn his 300 fighters when the Muslim force was within sight of the enemy force, and also due to the non-compliance of the explicit orders given by the Holy Prophet (PUBH) for the defence of the vital ground - called the Mountain of Archers.
Despite the inflicted setback by the idolaters, Islam continued to flourish. The Muslim base of MEDINA was becoming a formidable force, and before the Muslims had become strong enough to launch an attack on MECCA, the idolaters with their allies decided to destroy the Muslim base with a much superior force.
The idolaters who had lost their brethren in the battles of BADAR and UHUD were full of vengeance.
The Gathering Storm
For the next one year after the battle of UHUD calmness prevailed over the Arabian Peninsula. Through their treachery and intrigues the Jews continued to harm the Muslim community of MEDINA. For their treacherous role the Jew tribes of BANU NADHIR and BANU GATAFAN had been banished to KHYDER (KHAIBAR), and these Jews were bent upon delivering a deadly blow on the Muslims of MEDINA and to achieve this aim they entered into an unholy alliance with the idolaters of MECCA.
Twenty chiefs of the Jews and some influential men went to MECCA...