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Across the trench 
While the Muslims concentrated on defence, the Quraysh 
and their followers arrived with an army of 4000 men, 300 horses 
and 1000 camels. Abu Suryan rode proudly as the commander-in-
chief of the allied forces and their standard bearer was Uthman 
bin Talha Abdari. They camped at a spot between Jarf and 
Zahhaba. Opening another front, Banu Ghatfan and their 6000 
followers, the men of Najid, pitched camp at the end of the 

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Naqmi valley in the foothills of Mount Uhud. The arrival of two 
large armies so close to the walls of Madinah posed an enormous 
threat to the Muslims. Allah mentions the mammoth military 
coalition in Surah Al-Ahzaab: 
“Behold! They marched upon you from above and below, 
and then your eyes spun around and your hearts leapt to your 
throats. You began to doubt Allah’s plan, yet in this was a trial for 
the believers and an immense jolt.” (33: 10-11) 
But Allah Almighty kept the believers firm on that occasion. 
He says: “When the believers saw the confederate forces, they 
said: “This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us, and 
Allah and His Messenger have told us the truth.” And it only 
increased their faith and their submission to Allah.” (33: 22) 
However, the Hypocrites among the Muslims were fearful 
and querulous. They said: “Allah and His Messenger have 
promised us nothing but delusions.” (33: 12) 
Once again the Prophet appointed Umm Maktoom 
caretaker of Madinah and sent the women and children to take 
shelter in forts. He then set out with 3000 men and fortified his 
troops, keeping their backs to Mount Sal’a. In front was the 
trench that stood between the Muslims and unbelievers. 
The Pagans arrogantly advanced toward Madinah and the 
Muslims. As they approached, they caught sight of the trench and 
stopped in confusion. 
“A novel device, a wily ruse!” Abu Sufyan exclaimed in 
amazement. “This trick is totally unknown to the Arabs.” 
Overwhelmed with fury, the pagans set about trying to find a 
point where they could cross the trench, but the Muslim archers 
kept them at bay. A hail of arrows showered the pagans so that 
they could neither leap across the trench not fill it with earth. 
The Quraysh had no alternative way to lay siege to Madinah. 
Every morning they came out and attempted to cross the trench 

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while the Muslims guarded every inch of the border and greeted 
them with arrows and stones. The polytheists made several 
fruitless attempts to cross the trench and spent days huddled 
together trying to devise ways to launch their assault. The 
Muslims for their part were equally determined to make them give 
up. So intent were they in protecting their lines that the Prophet 
and his Companions missed several prayers, and offered them 
late around or after sunset, for at that point the “prayer in times 
of fear” (Salaah Al-Khauf) had not yet been ordained upon the 
Muslims. 
Finally, one day a party of the pagan cavalry comprising Amr 
bin Abdu Wudd, Ikrama bin Abi Jahl, Dharar bin Khattab and a 
few others, managed to vault over the trench at a narrow spot, 
while their horses pranced around between the trench and Mount 
Sal’a. From another side Ali sprang forward along with a few 
Muslims, and by capturing the point of entry they cut off the 
pagans’ route of escape. Amr bin Abdu Wudd, a ruthless and 
fearsome warrior, challenged Ali to combat. Ali provoked Amr’s 
anger with his taunts, and he alighted from his horse. The two 
adversaries fought and jostled, thrust and parried, but ultimately 
Ali put Amr to the sword. 
The rest of the polytheists darted back to their horses. They 
were so disconcerted that Ikrama left his lance trying to flee, and 
Naufal bin Abdullah fell into the trench and was put to death by 
the Muslims. At the end of the skirmish, ten pagans and six 
Muslims lay dead. 
An arrow hit Sa’d bin Mu’dah and his jugular vein was 
severed, but miraculously he survived his injury. He had prayed to 
Allah to preserve his life only if the decisive battle against the 
Quraysh was yet to be fought. His other supplication had been to 
stay alive to see the destruction of Banu Quraydha, and as we 
shall see, his prayer was answered.