Battle of the Trench

The Battle of the Trench was an attack by the city of Mecca on the city Medina in 627 AD. Although Mecca fielded a larger army it was not successful.

The event is also known as the Battle of the Ditch and the Battle of the Confederates.

Contents

1 Background

Background

The city of Mecca was home of the Quraysh tribe, which was led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. The inhabitants of Mecca were pagan or Jewish. Abu Sufyan tried to exterminate Islam. In 622 Mohammed moved from Mecca to Medina.

Forces

The army of Mecca was a Confederaton of the tribes Quraysh, Kinanah, Banu Sulaim, Ghatafan, Bani Murrah, Fazarah and Ashja' under the leadership of amongst others Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. The Confederation fielded 10,000 soldiers; its backbone was Quraysh cavalry.

The Jewish Qurayzah tribe did not take part of the battle but was secretly allied with the Confederation.

Medina was defended by 3,000 Muslims led by Mohammed.

Preparations

It is called the "Battle of the Trench" because the Muslims dug a trench north of Medina to protect their city. There was no man who did not help build the trench.

Battle

When the Quraysh arrived to fight, their cavalry unsuccessfully tried to cross the trench for three days. On the third day, a strong hurricane forced them to retreat, and admit defeat.

Aftermath

The Banu Qurayza tribe was confronted for having joined the side of Mecca. They where questioned if they would agree that they themself where to choose the judge, they did and choose a jewish muslim from a allied tribe, Sa`d ibn Mu`adh. As punishment the judge ordered the implementation of the jewish law, in other words the execution of all the males, 600 in number.

Numbers 31:7-9   And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; 
 and they slew all the males ... And the children of Israel took [all] the women of Midian 
 captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, 
 and all their flocks, and all their goods.

The children and women were enslaved. Mohammed took one of the Jewish women as a slave. This insident is the largest contributor to the total death toll of around 1500, including battlefield death, in all the battles that Muahammad participated in.

Follow Up

Mohammed would later peacefully march to Mecca and capture the city without a fight.