Islamiyat · May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Question 4

Give an account of the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq).

Use the AO1 Levels of Response.

Candidates should include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.

Banu Nadir, exiled from Madina, had broken their treaty agreements and planned to kill the Prophet (pbuh). They planned an attack with the Makkans and other Arab tribes (Banu Ghatafan) and gathered an army of 10,000. The Muslims gathered 3000 men, so were outnumbered. The Prophet (pbuh) consulted the Companions and Salman al-Farsi suggested the Muslims dig trenches, wide enough and deep enough not to be crossed to keep the army out of Madina.

The hypocrites in Madina withdrew their support, making excuses. Banu Qurayza did not initially want to break their agreements with the Prophet (pbuh), but later were convinced to help the Quraysh.

There was little food and water the Companions were going hungry. They complained to the Prophet (pbuh) who lifted his top and showed that he had tied stones to his stomach to show he was also hungry.

It was reported miracles were witnessed during this period such as feeding the army with one slaughtered goat prepared by Jabir or the Prophet (pbuh) breaking a large piece of rock that the Companions failed to.

The Quraysh tried to cross the trench; a couple of riders managed to cross a part that was narrower; ‘Ali fought them off.

The siege ran into weeks.

The Prophet (pbuh) used strategic skills to create mistrust between the alliances, sending Nuaym ibn Mas’ud to sow seeds of mistrust between the allies.

The Makkans eventually gave up after a three-day storm which prevented them from lighting fires, cooking food and keeping warm; Banu Qurayza were punished for their treachery by their own laws.

What good leadership skills can Muslims adopt from the Prophet’s example in the Battle of the Trench?

Use the AO2 Levels of Response.

Candidates can give other examples and all relevant answers should be credited.

Leadership skills that can be adopted from this battle can be applied to leadership in school, workplaces or elsewhere.

If you are in a position of authority or power, you can still take advice and learn from others. There will often be people who know more than you or have more experience or wisdom about a subject. Therefore, when you are in need, or have a dilemma, it is good to ask others who know, as the Prophet (pbuh) would also consult and take advice from his Companions such as when he listened to Salman al-Farsi. It is not necessary to always follow the advice, but people should be open to it.

Good leaders get involved in the work that they are expecting others to do, whether they can show they have done that in the past or they are doing it now. It will be difficult to respect someone that tells you to do things that they are not willing or able to do themselves.

Another lesson could be acting strategically. The prophet deployed several strategies to defeat his opponents including forming alliances, using diplomacy, and sowing seeds of mistrust. Today’s leadership can learn to use appropriate tactics in challenging situations.