Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 153
153 territories around Mecca, the tribes of Najd, and those living in territories to the north of Medina. Battle of the Ditch A large army was raised in the fifth year of the Hijrah. The strength of this army has been estimated by historians as between ten and twenty-four thousand men. But a confederated army raised out of the different tribes of Arabia could not be an army of ten thousand. Twenty-four thousand seems nearer the truth. It could easily have been eighteen or twenty thousand. The town of Medina which this horde wished to attack was a modest one, quite unable to resist a concerted attack by all Arabia. Its population at this time was little more than three thousand males (including old men, young men and children). Against this population the enemy had raised an army of twenty to twenty-four thousand able-bodied men, experienced in warfare; and (having been assembled from different parts of the country) they were an army with a well-selected personnel. The population of Medina, on the other hand, which could be called upon to resist this huge army included males of all ages. One can judge the odds against which the Muslim population of Medina had to contend. It was a most unequal encounter. The enemy was twenty to twenty-four thousand strong, and Muslims hardly three thousand including, as we have said, all the males of the town, the old and the young. When the Prophet heard of the huge enemy preparations, he held a council and asked for advice. Among those who were consulted was Salman the Persian, being the first Muslim convert from Persia. The Prophet asked Salman what they did in Persia if they had to defend a town against a huge army. "If a town is unfortified, and the home force very small," said Salman, "the custom in our country is to dig a ditch round the town and to defend from inside. " The Prophet approved of the idea. Medina has hills on one side. These provided a natural protection on that side. Another side with a concentration of lanes had a compact population. On this side the town could not be attacked unawares. The third side had houses and palm- groves and, at some distance, the fortresses of the Jewish tribe, Banu Qurayzah. The Banu Qurayzah had signed a pact of peace with the Muslims. Therefore this side was also considered safe from enemy attack. The fourth side was an open plain and it was from this side that the enemy attack was most likely and most feared. The Prophet, therefore, decided to dig a ditch on this open side so as to prevent the enemy from attacking unawares. The task was shared among Muslims—ten men were to dig ten yards of the ditch. Altogether a mile long ditch, of sufficient width and depth, had to be dug. When the digging was going on, they came upon a rock which Muslim sappers found hard to tackle. A report was sent to the Prophet who made for the spot at once. Taking a pickaxe he struck the rock hard. Sparks came out and the Prophet cried aloud " Allahu Akbar ". He struck again. Again a light came out and again the Prophet cried out, " Allahu Akbar ". He struck a third time. Light came out again, the Prophet