In( Ayats 9-27), an appraisal has been made of the battle of the Trench and the raid against

the Bani Quraizah. These were revealed at the end of the raid. One should keep the details of
these events in view as given in the introduction above.

The windstorm did not lash the enemy forces immediately on their arrival but it occurred
while the siege of Al-Madinah had lasted about a month. “Armies whom you did not see”
implies the hidden powers which operate in the affairs of men under Allah’s command and of
which men are totally unaware. Man regards the occurrence of events and incidents as
resulting from apparent causes and does not take into account the hidden forces at work,
whereas in most cases these very hidden forces play the decisive role. As these forces
function under the command of Allah’s angels, the “armies” may imply the angels as well
though there is no indication here of sending the armies of the angels.

Allah tells us of the blessings and favors He bestowed upon His believing servants when
He diverted their enemies and defeated them in the year when they gathered together and
plotted. That was the year of Al-Khandaq, in Shawwal of the year 5 AH according to the
well-known correct view. Musa bin `Uqbah and others said that it was in the year 4 AH.
The reason why the Confederates came was that a group of the leaders of the Jews of
Banu Nadir, whom the Messenger of Allah had expelled from Al-Madinah to Khaybar,
including Sallam bin Abu Al-Huqayq, Sallam bin Mishkam and Kinanah bin Ar-Rabi`,
went to Makkah where they met with the leaders of Quraysh and incited them to make
war against the Prophet . They promised that they would give them help and support, and
Quraysh agreed to that. Then they went to the Ghatafan tribe with the same call, and they
responded too. The Quraysh came out with their company of men from various tribes and
their followers, under the leadership of Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb. The Ghatafan were
led by `Uyaynah bin Hisn bin Badr. In all they numbered nearly ten thousand. When the
Messenger of Allah heard that they had set out, he commanded the Muslims to dig a ditch
(Khandaq) around Al-Madinah from the east. This was on the advice of Salman Al-Farisi,
may Allah be pleased with him. So the Muslims did this, working hard, and the
Messenger of Allah worked with them, carrying earth away and digging, in the process of
which there occurred many miracles and clear signs. The idolators came and made camp
to the north of Al-Madinah, near Uhud, and some of them camped on the high ground
overlooking Al-Madinah, as Allah says:
English Translation of Al-Quran [33].Surah Al-Ahzab [The Confederates] Ayat 9. O you who
believe! Remember Allah’s Favor to you, when there came against you hosts, and Allah sent
against them a wind and forces that you saw not [i.e. troops of angels during the battle of Al-
Ahzab (the Confederates)]. And Allah is Ever All Seer of what you do. Tafseer of Surah Al
Ahzab (The Confederates) Ayat 09. O ye who believe! Remember the Grace of Allah,
(bestowed) on you, when there came down on you hosts (to overwhelm you): But We sent
against them a hurricane and forces that ye saw not: but Allah sees (clearly) all that ye do. In
this verse is summed up the beginning and the end of the fateful struggle of the Siege of
Madinah in A.H. 5. The composition of the unhallowed Confederacy that came to destroy
Islam is referred to in the Introduction. They came with a force of ten to twelve thousand
fighting men, an unprecedented army for that time and country. The battle is known as the
Battle of the Trench. After a close investment of two to four weeks, during which the enemies
were disheartened by their ill success, there was a piercing blast of the cold east wind. It was
a severe winter, and February can be a very cold Mondi in Madinah, which is about 3,000
feet above the sea level. The enemy’s tents were torn up, their fires were extinguished, the
sand and rain beat in their faces, and they were terrified by the portents against them. They
had already well nigh fallen out amongst themselves, and beating a hasty retreat, they melted
away. The Madinah fighting strength was no more than 3,000, and the Jewish tribe of the
Banu Qurayzah who were in their midst was a source of weakness as they were treacherously
intriguing with the enemy. And further there were the Hypocrites: see n. 3666 above. But
there were hidden forces that helped the Muslims. Besides the forces of nature there were
moral forces-mutual distrust and bickering in the enemy camp, and on the other side, perfect
discipline among the real Muslims, and the superb leadership of the Prophet. Allah sees
everything. Therefore we may conclude that the discipline and moral fervor of the Muslims,
as well as the enemy’s insincerities, intrigues, and reliance on brute force, were all
contributory causes to his repulse, under Allah’s dispensation. There were many hidden
causes which neither party saw clearly.