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A few years after the Battle
of Ohod, several Jewish leaders, seething with jealousy and resentment against
the spread of Islam, began a campaign amongst the pagan idol worshippers of
Arabia to wage war against Rasulullah (SAW) and the Muslims.
Abu Sufyan (la) learned of
their plot and incited the Quresh to join with the Jews. Yet several hesitated,
for in their hearts they knew that Rasulullah’s (SAW) call was indeed towards
the true faith. They decided to confer with the Jews, who were considered to be Ahl-al-kitaab (the followers of a divine book revealed by Allah).
“Which is the true faith?”
They asked, “Ours or Mohammed’s (SAW)?”
The Jews were anxious to have
the Quresh fight alongside them. They compromised their beliefs and responded,
‘Without a doubt, your faith of idol worship is the true one!”
The Quresh joined with the
Jews in instigating the tribes of Arabia against Rasulullah (SAW).
The Arabic word for tribe is ‘hizb’, hence the
name of this battle: ‘Ahzaab’ (plural of hizb). They amassed ten thousand men
from various tribes and set out from Mecca to attack Medina. They vowed to kill
Mohammed (SAW) and all his followers.
Jibraeel brought word of the
impending attack to Rasulullah (SAW), who directed that a khandaq
(trench) be dug around Medina and lit with fire. Rasulullah (SAW)
instructed the citizens of Medina to commence work immediately, often digging
alongside with them. Ali (AS) and his Shia did the maximum work. The
khandaq was completed just before the enemy reached Medina.
The Ahzaab were stunned to
see the khandaq. They had never before witnessed such a war tactic. Frustrated
at being thwarted from entering Medina, they laid siege to the city. The army
soon began to lose morale, and tire of the harsh weather and poor living
conditions. The Jews rushed to plant seeds of treachery amongst Jewish clans in
Medina who had signed peace treaties with Rasulullah (SAW), and lured
them into revoking their treaties and joining the enemy.
Finally, Amr bin Abde Wad
(la), a legendary and feared warrior amongst the Arabs, sought out a narrow area
to clear the khandaq. Mounting his horse, he leapt over the flames of the
khandaq and entered Medina. The Muslims were alarmed by these developments.
Their eyes turned dull and their hearts rose in their throats, as the Quran
(33:10-13) describes.
Amr bin abde Wad brandished
his sword and called out, “Is there any one among you who dares to fight?”
Rasulullah (SAW) asked Abu Bakr and Umar, “Will you fight him?” Neither came forth.
It was a critical time. Rasulullah (SAW) entrusted his faithful brother, wasi and
wazir Amir ul mumineen (SAW) to take on this fearful warrior, and
protect Islam. Ali (AS) accepted without a moment’s hesitation.
Rasulullah (SAW) handed him his sword, the famed Zul fiqar, raised
his hands to the sky and prayed: “The manifestation of imaan in its
entirety is going into battle with the manifestation of kufr (pagan
idolatry) in its entirety. O Allah, protect Ali from all sides.”
The people of Medina watched
fearfully as Ali (AS) approached the dreaded enemy.
“I have heard that you have
sworn that whenever you are offered two choices, you always accept one.” Ali
(AS) challenged Amr bin abde Wad.
“What do you want of me?” he
demanded.
“I call upon you to accept
Islam,” said Ali (AS).
“I have no need of your
Islam,” Amr bin abde Wad responded scornfully.
“Then I call you to fight!”
Ali (AS) exclaimed.
“But I do not wish to fight
you, for your father was dear to me” he replied.
“Indeed, I intend to fight
you!” stated Ali (AS).
Amr bin abde Wad was enraged
by this challenge. He got off his horse and slashed its legs with his sword.
This, an Arab custom, ensured that should the warrior die, none other would use
his warhorse.
The duel began. Amr bin abde
Wad attacked Amir ul mumineen (AS) with a mighty blow to his head.
Ali’s helmet split open and he was severely
wounded. A great cloud of dust blew up, and none of the two warring sides could
see what was happening. Ali (AS) drew his sword and with one powerful
stroke, cleaved the mighty Amr (la) into two pieces.
When the dust settled, all
were amazed to see Ali (AS) calmly wiping his sword on the clothes of
the fallen Amr bin Wad. A joyous cry of Allah o Akbar rose up among the
Muslimeen.
The enemy was vanquished.
They lost their nerve after seeing the swift disposal of their prized warrior at
Ali’s (AS) hands, and were forced to flee in fear.
Amir ul Mumineen (AS) single-handedly defeated the enemy!
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