4قُتِلَ أَصحابُ الأُخدودِ(Saheeh International)Destroyed [i.e., cursed] were the companions of the trench1 Or "May they be destroyed" or "cursed." The "companions of the trench" (or ditch) were agents of a tyrannical king who refused to allow his people to believe in Allāh. Their evil deed in obedience to their ruler earned for them the curse of Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘ālā).