Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 302
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 302 violently shaken. In these circumstances, the Muslims did not know which way to turn. After the first two or three days, their continuous state of alertness exhausted them utterly. The enemy was aware of this and made repeated efforts to get across the trench at its weaker points; the defenders had to move continuously from one point to another wherever danger threatened, so that they could not concentrate their strength at any particular point. Besides, on account of the treachery of Banu Quraidha, it had become necessary t o strengthen the pickets inside the city, so that women and children should not be exposed to any serious danger. Sir William Muir has described part of this situation as follows ( Life of Muhammad , pp. 310 - 11): The confederate host resolved if possible to storm the trench, and, having discovered a narrow and ill - guarded part, a general attack was made upon it. Spurring their horses, a few of them, led by Ikrama, son of Abu Jahl, cleared the ditch, and galloped da untingly before the Muslim line. No sooner was this perceived than Ali with a guard of picked men moved out against them. These, by a rapid manoeuvre, gained the rear of Ikrama, and occupying the narrow point that he had crossed cut off retreat. At this mo ment Amr bin Abdood, an aged chief in the train of Ikrama, challenged his adversaries to single combat. Ali forthwith accepted the challenge, and the two stood man to man in the open plain. Amr, dismounting, maimed his horse, in token of his resolve to