In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

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BATTLE OF AHZAB

The site of this battle is only a walking distance three kilometers from Madina village of that time. The enemies had come extremely close to this tiny village in order to completely wipe out the Muslims from the surface of the earth. Disbelievers of Makkah, Jews and many other tribes joined hand to achieve this goal. That is why it is called the Battle of Ahzab. (Ahzab means many groups). They were about twelve to fifteen thousands fully equipped while Muslims were only three thousands with very few arms. This took place during the fifth year of Hijra.

Quran describes the severity of this conflictin Al-Ahzab #1011

When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harbouring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking.

EXAMPLES OF BARGAINING AMONG THE ENEMIES

Jewish tribe, Banu Nadir, was expelled from Madina due to their treachery and mischiefs. Some of them had settled in Khaiber. They could not tolerate success of Muslims. The leader of Banu Nadir, Hai bin Akhtab, visited Makkah with a delegation of twenty persons. He invited the idolaters of Makkah to attack Madina.

Twenty Jews of Madina and fifty leaders of Quraish of Makkah put their chests against the walls of Kabah in Makkah and vowed that they will continue fighting against Mohammed (SAS) even one of us is alive.

Jews also bribed a powerful Arab tribe Ghatfan to recruit them in this battle. It was agreed that all dates produced in Khaibar during this year will be donated to this tribe. By some narrations half of these dates were to be paid to this warrior tribe. Ghatfan eagerly joined the battle by accepting this tempting deal. Hai bin Akhtab also approached Banu Quraiza, another Jewish tribe. After some reluctance they agreed to fight against the Muslims as well.

WAR STRATEGY OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED (SAS)

Consultation at all occasions is an important practice of Islam. The Prophet (SAS) made an advisory council consisting of Salman Farsi (RU), Ali (RU), Omar (RU), Saad bin Muaz (RU) and Abu Bakar (RU). Some of mosques seen at the site of the Battle of Ahzab are known by the members of this advisory council. Masjid Fatah is the site where the Prophet (SAS) made many supplications for the success of the Muslims.

Salman Farsi (RU) suggested that a trench should be dug between the enemy and us. The Prophet (SAS) liked this suggestion. Every group of ten believers was to dig forty yards long and five feet deep trench. The Prophet (SAS) also did his part like other believers. Rarely a commander-in-chief participates in this manner.

The Prophet (SAS) chose this site to face the enemy so that enemy could not attack from behind due to mountain. The trench was in front of the Muslim troops and also prevented enemy to advance towards them.

As mentioned in Tirmidhi, Abu Talha (RU) complained to the Prophet (SAS) about his sufferings from extreme starvation during the digging of the trench. Abu Talha (RU) even showed a stone tied upon his stomach. The Prophet (SAS) exposed his stomach and it had two stones tied on it.

MIRACLES

A few extraordinary miracles took place during this battle.

As mentioned in Bukhari, Jaber bin Abdullah (RU) noticed that the Prophet (SAS) was suffering from extreme starvation with several stones tied upon his stomach. He rushed to his home and sacrificed a small lamb while his wife baked bread from about two and half kilo flour. He quietly invited the Prophet (SAS) to his home for dinner. He also requested the Prophet (SAS) to bring a few of his Companions with him to this dinner as well. The Prophet went to Jaber’s (RU) home with about one thousand of his Companions. Jaber (RU) and his wife got worried. The Prophet (SAS) served the meals to all the Companions with his own hands. Surprisingly all the Companions ate to their fill and still some food was left over which was distributed to the neighbors. It is believed that this house of Jaber (RU) was in front of present gas (fuel) filling station known as Sabah Masajid filling station.

As mentioned in Ibn Hisham, Nouman bin Bashir’s (RU) sister brought some dates for his brother to the battle site. The Prophet (SAS) borrowed these dates from her and sprinkled them over a piece of cloth spread on the ground. All Muslim participants of this war came there and ate dates to their fill. The more they consumed the dates, the more they grew in number, so much so that the piece of cloth could not hold all the dates and they were scattered around the edges of this cloth.

An unbreakable stone appeared where Salman Farsi (RU) was digging. It was reported to the Prophet (SAS). The Prophet (SAS) hit this stubborn stone with his tool and recited from Quran Al-Anam # 115.

And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice,

It caused a spark and one third of the rocks was chopped off. The Prophet (SAS) hit the stone with his tool second time while reciting

And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice, None can change His Words.

It caused a spark again and one third of rock was chopped off. The Prophet (SAS) hit the stone third time reciting.

And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice, None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

It also caused a spark and the remaining rock was broken into pieces.

Salman Farsi (RU) said to the Prophet (SAS),

“Dear Prophet, I saw a spark each time you hit the rock.”

The Prophet (SAS) responded,

“In first spark I saw the red castle of Syria. Jibreel (AS) informed me that your followers will conquer Syria. During the second spark I saw white castles of Persia. Jibreel (AS) further informed me that your followers will conquer it as well. During the third spark I was given keys of Yemen, and I was informed that your followers will also conquer this dynasty.”

The Muslims were cheered up at this good news. The hypocrites, however, tauntingly jeered at the Muslims. However, no doubt was created in the minds of the sincere Muslims even in this difficult time of war and starvation.

Note that in verse # 115, the two characteristics of Quran are described. The guidance in Quran is total truth and is based on absolute justice. Furthermore nobody will ever be able to change this sublime guidance. Last but not the least, Allah (SWT) is hearing and knows what these people are talking.

It is obvious that in the case of any extreme hardship we should recite the above verse Al-Anam # 115

And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice, None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

MENTALITY OF THE HYPOCRITES

Hypocrites are those who outwardly follow the teachings of Islam but the true Islamic spirit has not entered their hearts. Hence they pray, fast, pay Zakat and even go to war with Muslims. Their presence is more dangerous and treacherous than the worst enemies of Islam. Allah has exposed them due to their shameless character. Some of their activities during this battle are listed below.

1-When the hypocrites saw huge army of disbelievers they said,

“Fact is that Allah and His Prophet have not promised any thing. It is a sheer deceiving call.” Al-Ahzab #12‏

And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said:

“Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!”

2-They said to the Muslim army,

“Go back home. No way you can face this powerful enemy.” Al-Ahzab #13

And when a party of them said:

“0 people of Yathrib (AI-Madinah)! There is no stand for you Therefore go back!”

3-Some of them asked for the permission of the Prophet (SAS) to let them go back home since their homes are open to the harm from the enemy. In fact, they wanted to flee from the battlefield by their smart talk with the Prophet (SAS)

Al-Ahzab # 13.

And a band of them ask for permission of the Prophet saying:

“Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy).”

And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.

4- Some of the hypocrites not only stayed away from the battle, they even invited others to join them. Al-Ahzab #18

Allah already knows those among you who keep back (men) from fighting in Allah's Cause, and those who say to their brethren

“Come here towards us,”

while they (themselves) come not to the battle except a little,

5-Allah (SWT) said to the Prophet,

“When a fearful situation arises you will see the hypocrites looking towards you with awe stricken eyes as observed at the approach of death. As soon as the fear disappears the hypocrites will address you with their very sharp tongues and insulting tones while acting very miserly.” Al-Ahzab # 19

Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like one over whom hovers death; but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues, miserly towards good. Such have not believed. Therefore Allah makes their deeds fruitless and that is ever easy for Allah.

Many other similar mean, nasty and tricky activities of hypocrites are described in Surah Al-Ahzab.

STATE OF MIND OF THE SINCERE BELIEVERS

Look at the contrasting response of believers when they saw this huge army of disbelievers against them

AI-Ahzab # 2

And when the believers saw AI-Ahzab, they said:

“This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us; and Allah and His Messenger had spoken the truth. And it only added to their Faith and to their submissiveness (to Allah)."

This is because they firmly believed in the guidance of Allah (SWT) in Quran.For example Al-Baqara # 214.

Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allah?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!

Believers were true to their covenants with Allah (SWT). Some of them have already fulfilled these and others are eagerly waiting without changing their intentions even slightly. Al-Ahzab # 23

Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah of them some have fulfilled their obligations and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed.

ALLAH’S (SWT) HELP

The armies faced each other for about a month in bitter cold. Finally Allah (SWT) sent a very cold and strong wind, which affected both armies. Allah (SWT) says in Al-Ahzab#9

"O you who believe! Remember Allah’s Favour to you, when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a wind and forces that you saw not and Allah is Ever All-Seer of what you do."

A miraculous split took place between the Jews and the disbelievers due to some misunderstandings between them. The strong wind uprooted the tents of enemy and did other damage too. The disbelievers left the place fully disgusted and full of anger without achieving any thing. In fact it broke their back and they never dared to attack the Muslims in future.

As mention in Bukhari and narrated by Salman bin Saad (RU), The Prophet (SAS) said,

“Now they will never dare to attack us. In fact we will attack them and our forces will advance towards them.”

As mentioned earlier, the Prophet (SAS) gave the glad tidings of future conquests of super powers of Syria, Persia and Yemen by his followers. This raised the spirit and morale of Muslims. The hypocrites, however, laughed at it. They said,

“How can these poverty stricken, handful believers with very minimal military means can conquer these super powers?”

Allah (SWT) sent a very powerful verse to answer this joking of the hypocrites. Al-Imran # 26

Say “0 Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things. "

History shows that the believers did conquer these super powers during the period of rightly guided four caliphs.

The following question is posed again and again. How can Muslims conquer the present misguided superpowers? The answer is very obvious. If Muslims follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAS) and the footprints of his Companions sincerely and patiently, Allah’s help will embrace them.