The Quran

Preface

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اذكُروا نِعمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيكُم إِذ جاءَتكُم جُنودٌ فَأَرسَلنا عَلَيهِم ريحًا وَجُنودًا لَم تَرَوها ۚ وَكانَ اللَّهُ بِما تَعمَلونَ بَصيرًا

Yusuf Ali

C. 187 | [33:9-27] When the formidable forces of a whole Confederacy
Bent on destroying Islam burst
Upon Medīna, it was Gods’ grace that saved
The Muslims. The enemies and the Hypocrites
Did their best to defeat the purpose of God,
But they were foiled. In the Apostle was found
The ideal Leader for the men of God,
Who became heirs to the heritage misused
By enemies to Faith and the Laws of God.

O ye who believe! Remember the Grace of God, (bestowed) on you, when there came down on you hosts (to overwhelm you):¹ But We sent against them² a hurricane and forces that ye saw not: but God sees (clearly)³ all that ye do.

In this verse is summed up the beginning and the end of the fateful struggle of the Siege of Medīna in A.H. 5. The composition of the unhallowed Confederacy that came to destroy Islam is referred to in the Introduction. They came with a force of ten to twelve thousand fighting men, an unprecedented army for that time and country. The battle is known as the Battle of the Trench.
After a close investment of two to four weeks, during which the enemy were disheartened by their ill success, there was a piercing blast of the cold east wind. It was a severe winter, and February can be a very cold month in Medīna, which is about 3,000 ft. above the sea level. The enemy’s tents were torn up, their fires were extinguished, the sand and rain beat in their faces, and they were terrified by the portents against them. They had already well nigh fallen out amongst themselves, and beating a hasty retreat, they melted away. The Medīna fighting strength was no more than 3,000, and the Jewish tribe of the Banū Quraiẓa who were in their midst was a source of weakness as they were treacherously intriguing with the enemy. And further there were the Hypocrites: see n. to verse 33:1. But there were hidden forces that helped the Muslims. Besides the forces of nature there were moral forces—mutual distrust and bickering in the enemy camp, and on the other side, perfect discipline among the real Muslims, and the superb leadership of the holy Prophet.
God sees everything. Therefore we may conclude that the discipline and moral fervour of the Muslims, as well as the enemy’s insincerities, intrigues, and reliance on brute force, were all contributory causes to his repulse, under God’s dispensation. There were many hidden causes which neither party saw clearly.