The Battle of Al-Khandak or Al-Ahzab

On the fifth year of Hijrah, a battle named “Al-Khandak” which mean drain took place. It was also named the battle of “Al-Ahzab” which means tribe.

This battle was named Al Khandak because the Muslims had dug a drain around Madinah as their frontier against the enemy. This was a suggestion by a companion named Salman Al-Farisi.

The battle was also named Al-Ahzab because not only did the Musyrikin of Mekah come to fight but also other tribes too. There were 10,000 enemy soldiers. They had camped out in the desert on the outskirts of Madinah.

Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala helped the Muslims and there was a strong typhoon that destroyed all the camps and their belongings. The Musyrikin leader ordered his soldiers to save themselves.