Prophet's era · 627

Battle of the Trench (Khandaq)

On Salman al-Farsi's advice the Muslims dug a trench across the open northern side of Madinah. After weeks of siege, cold winds and broken alliances, the Confederates went home.

The site of the battle on the 632 map. Shaded: Islamic state at the Prophet's death, 632.

Key facts

When: 627
Where: Madinah
Sides: Muslims vs the Confederates (Quraysh and allied tribes)
Commanders: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) vs Abu Sufyan
Result: Siege failed
Type: Prophet's era
Chapter: 1. The Rightly Guided Caliphs

The wider picture: The Prophet's state in Madinah

In the ten years after the Hijrah, Madinah grew from one town into a state that held most of Arabia. When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died in June 632, the two great powers next door, Byzantium and Sasanian Persia, were worn out after decades of war with each other.

See the 632 map Read chapter 1

More prophet's era battles

All 8 prophet's era battles · Battle explorer

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