Through Force or Faith? — Page 182
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 182 of the Army. Tradition No. 2367) Whereas the enemy was 1,000 strong and was properly equipped ( S ī rat Ibn Hish ā m ). At the time of the second battle, Muslims were 700 in num- ber ( S ī rat Ibn Hish ā m ) whereas the Meccans were close to 3,000. In this battle, Muslims suffered much loss and even the Holy Prophet s as was wounded ( S ī rat Ibn Hish ā m ). At the time of the third battle, Muslims did not even have the strength to defend themselves in the open. Therefore, a ditch was dug around Madinah to protect themselves from the enemy. Meccans were 10,000 strong in this battle whereas Muslims were 3,000 ( S ī rat Ibn Hish ā m ). Madinah was in siege and the condi- tions had deteriorated to the point of َنْوُّنُظَت ِهّٰللاِب اَنْوُنُّظلاْذِا ْمُكْوُءٓاَج ْنِّم ْمُكِقْوَف َو ْنِم َلَفْسَا ْمُكْنِم َو ْذِا ِتَغاَز ُراَصْبَاْلا َو ِتَغَلَب ُبْوُلُقْلا َرِجاَنَحْلا َو When they came upon you from above you, and from below you, and when your eyes became distracted, and your hearts leapt to your throats and you entertained way- ward thoughts about Allah ( S u rah al-A h z a b, 33:11). Enemy had encircled from all sides from above Madinah and from beneath and Muslims were scared for their lives. Their eyes were bewildered and the hearts were sinking and some had begun entertaining doubts about God. And, at the time of the last major encounter that was in 8 A. H. , 2 years before his [the Holy Prophet] demise, َّو ْتَقاَض ُمُكْيَلَع ُضْرَاْلا اَمِب ْتَبُحَر َّمُث ْمُتْيَّلَو َنْيِرِبْدُّمۚ … and the earth, with all its vastness, became straitened