When the people gathered to discuss a plan of action
against the approaching enemy, Salman was present and it
was he who suggested that they should dig a trench around
the city. The Prophet (Pbuh) thought this a good idea, so the
Muslims set to work, although it was in the middle of winter.
They worked day and night, digging the trench as quickly as
possible. The Prophet (Pbuh) himself carried rocks and when
the men were tired he gave them the will to carry on.
Someone later recalled how beautiful he looked, dressed in a
red cloak with dust upon his breast and his dark hair nearly
reaching his shoulders. There was little food at this time and
the men were often hungry as they worked.
On one occasion, however, a little girl gave some dates to
the Prophet (Pbuh), which he spread out on a cloth. The men
were then called to eat and the dates kept increasing in
number until everyone had been fed. Even after everyone had
eaten their fill, the dates continued to increase so that there
were more than the cloth could hold. Similarly, there is the
story of the lamb, that has come down to us from one who
was there: 'We worked with the Apostle at the trench. I had a
half-grown lamb and I thought it would be a good thing to
cook it for Allah's Messenger. I told my wife to grind barley
and make some bread for us. I killed the lamb and we roasted
it for the Prophet (Pbuh). When night fell and he was about to
leave the trench, I told him we had prepared bread and meat
and invited him to our home. I wanted him to come on his
own, but when I said this he sent someone to call all the men
to come along. Everyone arrived and the food was served. He
blessed it and invoked the Name of Allah over it. Then he ate
and so did all of the others. As soon as one lot were satisfied,
another group came until all the diggers had eaten enough,
but still there was food to spare.
On March 24, 627 A.D, Abu Sufyan arrived with more than
ten thousand men. The Muslims numbered only three
thousand. Quraysh and their allies surrounded Medinah but
between the two armies was the long, wide trench.
against the approaching enemy, Salman was present and it
was he who suggested that they should dig a trench around
the city. The Prophet (Pbuh) thought this a good idea, so the
Muslims set to work, although it was in the middle of winter.
They worked day and night, digging the trench as quickly as
possible. The Prophet (Pbuh) himself carried rocks and when
the men were tired he gave them the will to carry on.
Someone later recalled how beautiful he looked, dressed in a
red cloak with dust upon his breast and his dark hair nearly
reaching his shoulders. There was little food at this time and
the men were often hungry as they worked.
On one occasion, however, a little girl gave some dates to
the Prophet (Pbuh), which he spread out on a cloth. The men
were then called to eat and the dates kept increasing in
number until everyone had been fed. Even after everyone had
eaten their fill, the dates continued to increase so that there
were more than the cloth could hold. Similarly, there is the
story of the lamb, that has come down to us from one who
was there: 'We worked with the Apostle at the trench. I had a
half-grown lamb and I thought it would be a good thing to
cook it for Allah's Messenger. I told my wife to grind barley
and make some bread for us. I killed the lamb and we roasted
it for the Prophet (Pbuh). When night fell and he was about to
leave the trench, I told him we had prepared bread and meat
and invited him to our home. I wanted him to come on his
own, but when I said this he sent someone to call all the men
to come along. Everyone arrived and the food was served. He
blessed it and invoked the Name of Allah over it. Then he ate
and so did all of the others. As soon as one lot were satisfied,
another group came until all the diggers had eaten enough,
but still there was food to spare.
On March 24, 627 A.D, Abu Sufyan arrived with more than
ten thousand men. The Muslims numbered only three
thousand. Quraysh and their allies surrounded Medinah but
between the two armies was the long, wide trench.