Battle of the Trench (Khandaq)

The Battle of the Trench, also called al-Ahzab (the Confederates), saw an unprecedented coalition of Quraysh, Ghatafan, and various Arab and Jewish tribes besiege Medina with a combined force estimated between 10,000 and 24,000 fighters. On the suggestion of Salman al-Farisi, the Muslims dug a trench along the northern exposed approach to Medina — a tactic previously unknown to the Arabs. The siege lasted approximately 25 days. The confederate coalition was unable to breach the trench and was weakened by internal divisions engineered by the Muslim diplomat Nu'aym ibn Mas'ud. Allah sent a severe windstorm that disrupted the confederate camp and broke their resolve, as mentioned in Surah Al-Ahzab. The coalition withdrew without achieving their objective. The successful defence of Medina against this massive alliance marked the high-water mark of Qurayshi military power and effectively ended the existential threat to the Muslim state. The Quran praised the believers' steadfastness and condemned the hypocrites who had counselled surrender.