Marwiyat Ghazwat al-Khandaq
- Author died
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- Editions
- Deanship of Scientific Research, Islamic University of Madinah
Marwiyat Ghazwat al-Khandaq (Narrations of the Battle of the Trench) is a specialized hadith and sirah monograph by Ibrahim bin Muhammad al-Madkhali, examining and evaluating the transmitted historical reports concerning the Battle of the Trench (the Battle of the Confederates) .
Background and Academic Context
The work originated as a Master's thesis in the Department of Fiqh al-Sunnah at the Islamic University of Madinah . It was supervised by Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad, with additional academic guidance provided by Akram Diya' al-Umari, then head of the university's graduate studies department . The thesis was defended on 27 Rajab 1402 AH (1982 CE) and was subsequently published by the Islamic University of Madinah in 1424 AH (2003 CE) . The author noted that his primary motivations for the study included participating in an institutional project at the university aimed at producing specialized, critical monographs on various battles in the Prophet's biography, scrutinizing authentic reports from unverified or fabricated narratives, and documenting the decisive confrontation at Medina .
Method
In assessing the historical material, al-Madkhali followed a hadith-critical methodology:
- Citing narrations with their chains and providing biographical evaluations of narrators from standard biographical dictionaries (kutub al-tarajim) .
- Assessing the authenticity (sihhah) or weakness (da'f) of narrations that had not been evaluated by early critics or included in the Sahihayn (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), checking for chain continuity and absence of defects ('ilal) or anomalies (shudhudh) .
- In cases where no specific hadith report was transmitted for an episode, citing the narrative framework of Ibn Ishaq followed by other authorities of prophetic campaigns (maghazi) .
- Cross-referencing relevant Quranic verses and concluding the work with comprehensive analytical and topical indexes .
Structure and Scope
The book consists of an introduction, a preliminary historical background, five main chapters, and a conclusion :
- Preliminary Section: Summarizes the key events occurring between the Battle of Uhud and the Trench, including the expedition to Hamra al-Asad .
- Chapter 1: Analyzes the direct causes and the exact dating of the campaign .
- Chapter 2: Examines the inciting role played by Jewish factions and the subversion of the hypocrites (munafiqun) .
- Chapter 3: Details the Muslim defense measures, including the Prophet's consultation (shura) regarding digging the trench, his personal physical participation, the miraculous breaking of the obstinate rock (al-kudyah), and the geographical layout and duration of the excavation .
- Chapter 4: Focuses on the arrival of the confederate forces, the size and leadership of both armies, the breach of treaty by Banu Qurayza, and attempts to disrupt the Muslim front .
- Chapter 5: Details the military engagements and skirmishes at the trench, the duels and casualties, the delay of the prescribed prayers due to intense fighting, and the roles of notable figures such as Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, Nu'aym ibn Mas'ud, and Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, concluding with the arrival of the gale wind and the retreat of the confederate army .
- Conclusion: Gathers the legal rulings (ahkam), lessons, and theological reflections derived from the battle, emulating the analytical method applied by Ibn al-Qayyim to other prophetic campaigns .
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