1. The battle of the Confederates
chapter of Alahzab Mr. Shafiey

2. The battle of the Confederates
the following verses came to depict one of the cases of trials believers were afflicted with. It was one of the hardest times Muslims went through. It is the ordeal indicated by the holy verses and known as the battle of the confederates, trench or Ahzab. It is the day of ‘earthquake’ as put by the holy Qur’an. In ordeals, realities become clear and people differ in their reactions and thus the strong become distinct from the weak, and believers from skeptics. However, Allah, Glory be to Him, does not abandon His devoted sincere worshippers and those who are certain of meeting their Lord, Glory be to Him.

3. (Surat Al-Ahzab: 9:20.)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَاءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا (9)
"0 you who believe Remember Allah's favor unto you when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a great wind and hosts you could not see. And Allah is ever All-Seer of what you do.
إِذْ جَاءُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَا(10)
When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when eyes grew wild and hearts reached to the throats, and you were imagining vain thoughts concerning Allah .
هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا (11)
There were the believers sorely tried, and shaken with a mighty shock .
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا (12)
And When the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, were saying: Allah and His messenger promised us nothing but delusion.
وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوا ۚ وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِيَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا (13)
And when a party of them said: O folk of Yathrib! There is no stand (possible) for you, therefore, turn back. And certain of them (even) sought permission of the Prophet, saying: Our homes lie open (to the enemy). And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا الْفِتْنَةَ لَآتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا بِهَا إِلَّا يَسِيرًا (14)
If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.

4. (Surat Al-Ahzab: 9:20.)
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ الْأَدْبَارَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا (15)
And verily they had already sworn unto Allah that they would not turn their backs (to the foe). An oath to Allah must he answered for.
قُل لَّن يَنفَعَكُمُ الْفِرَارُ إِن فَرَرْتُم مِّنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَإِذًا لَّا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (16)
Say: Flight will not avail you if you flee from death or killing, and then you dwell in comfort but a little while.
قُلْ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً ۚ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا (17)
Say: Who is he who can preserve you from Allah if He intends harm for you, or intends mercy for you. They will not find that they have any friend or helper other than Allah.
۞ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُعَوِّقِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالْقَائِلِينَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمْ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الْبَأْسَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (18)
Allah already knows those of you who hinder, and those who say unto their brethren: "Come you hither unto us!" and they come not to the stress of battle save a little,
أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَالَّذِي يُغْشَىٰ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ ۖ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى الْخَيْرِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا فَأَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا (19)
Being sparing of their help to you (believers). But when the fear comes, then you (Muhammad) seest them regarding you with rolling eyes like one who faints unto death. Then, when the fear departs, they scald you with sharp tongues in their greed for wealth (from the spoil). Such have not believed. Therefore, Allah makes their deeds fruitless. And that is easy for Allah.
يَحْسَبُونَ الْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ الْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي الْأَعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنبَائِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا فِيكُم مَّا قَاتَلُوا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (20)
They hold that the clans have not retired (for good); and if the Clans should advance (again), they would fain be in the desert with the wandering Arabs, asking for the news of you and if they were among you, they would not give battle, save a little."

5. The battle of the Confederates
1-The instigation of Banu An-Nadhir the enemies of Muslims to fight them to
Get their revenge.
2- The unity of the goal of the alleys against prophet Muhamed and his companions
3- Retrieving their sovereignty over the Arabian region.
4-Eraadicating the new message that threatens their interests in the region

6. Lesson Vocabulary

8. In the time of crisis, fear and great trials for at that time people are unstable and tend
to believe every thing they are told.
Spreading fear, terror, lies among people and absence of trust.
Stop spreading it – Wait for authorities to investigate and give a report.
The instigation of Banu An-Nadir to the tribes of Quraish to come and the desire of the people of
Quraish to retrieve their dominion over the region by eradicating the newborn power of Islam
It indicates the complete siege that their enemies laid from all entries and exits of Madinah

9. Traits and conducts
The holy verses clarified some behaviors of hypocrites and revealed some of their intentions which appeared in their deeds:
Asking the prophet, peace be upon him, for a permission to disseminate despair and defeatism among the ranks of the Muslims.
Using false pretexts to justify their cowardice and weakness.
To promulgate rumors in Al Madinah so as to propagate disorder and desperation within society.
Withdrawal and fleeing to their homes at time when there is a dire need by society for all capacities of its individuals.
Their acts reflected their characteristics, lies and weakness of faith.
The holy verses then illustrated their inner intentions.
Had the confederates entered Al Madinah, they would have hurried to apostasy and fought against the Muslims although they had promised Allah at the time of peace to be steadfast and never flee, but they ran away even before the beginning of the combat. If they really had been true believers, they would have realized that fleeing would not save them from death, and that standing firm in battle would never decrease one's life even one moment. Life and death are only in the hands of the Almighty Allah and the time of death cannot be accelerated or delayed.

10. disseminate despair and defeatism among Muslims
promulgate rumors and propagate disorder and desperation within society
Doubting and undermining the ability of the Muslim society.
They don’t have a principal or faith and look for their own interests
Warning: not to break promises
Threat: That Allah will question them about it in the day of judgment.

11. I discuss and criticize
«قُلْ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً ۚ »
Say: Who is he who can preserve you from Allah if He intends harm for you, or intends mercy for you.
ponder on the following phrases then discuss them based on the above, through their application in reality according to the following table:
Meaning what is destined is inevitable even if you are cautious
Caution is a must
We must be cautious and make use of the best available causes but we leave the results to Allah and Don’t depress if Allah destined for us something else
We should procrastinate nothing related to the Hereafter.
Having patience and well organize everything related to this world.
Peace, serenity and prosperity
When we fear Allah in everything we do it the best way and that
leads to happy relationship among society members.

12. Pictures from the incident
First: the picture of those hindering the progress of society while asking their brethren to leave their duty and give up fighting with the Prophet, peace be upon him, and companions. They did not participate except minimally to attests to their attendance. They try to make Muslims believe that they are with them. They have no merit or advantage and they are either frustrated or frustrating the efforts of others in fields of work, achievement, creativity and donation. Their harm is bigger than their benefit.
Second: the picture of skeptics and their turmoil and panic as if they were on the verge of death due to their mere feeling of danger. They even hoped that there were away from Almedina at a safe place content with asking about what happened. They did not care except about their security even if at the expense of their people and nation. And even in case of peace they only long for their interests and benefits. The Almighty Allah says:
 فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى الْخَيْرِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا فَأَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا (19)
“But when the fear comes, then you (Muhammad) seest them regarding you with rolling eyes like one who faints unto death. Then, when the fear departs, they scald you with sharp tongues in their greed for wealth (from the spoil). Such have not believed. Therefore, Allah makes their deeds fruitless. And that is easy for Allah”
They offended the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the believers to gain material advantages.

13. Pictures from the incident
Third: the picture of believers who deserved Allah's support, glory be to Him, since the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and the believers did not leave their places and stayed sincerely and steadfastly. They did not disobey the commands of their commander and never lost hope of Allah's mercy or gave up their trust in Him.
Fourth: the picture of the confederates' camp when the Almighty Allah sent His soldiers against them, such as wind, cold and disunion. Their tents scattered, their luggage dispersed, their deception and plots of the hypocrites went in vain, and their hopes failed

14. Encouraging Muslim to remain steadfast and never panic or cowardice.
To put the country and religion interest before their own.
Never promulgate rumors that spread disorder in time of turmoil.
Raising the morals of each other to overcome any hindrance or ordeal the Muslim
Nation is facing.
To take part in defending my country and never flee the battle ground.
Disseminate positive attitudes among society and fight rumors.

15. Because of their Hypocrisy and internal disbelief.
Since they didn’t follow Allah and his messenger, He nullified their deeds
and didn’t accept them.
The Hypocrites
Because of their Hypocrisy and internal disbelief.
Because they disseminated despair and fled their ground trying to weaken the Muslims.
Wishing that the confederates fight Muslims and exterminate them and they would ask “is it over yet?”. Proving my point is their wish not to be among Muslims when this happen.

16. Sending Wind on the disbelievers’ camp that uprooted their tents.
Sending heavenly hosts to support the believers.
Ghatfan – Banu Asad – Quraish – Banu An-Nadir – Banu Amir
To exterminate Muslims and Prophet’s Message
Break - promises
Lying
Weak faith
treacherous
Promulgate rumors
Treachery
Undermine the morals of Muslims
Fleeing the battle field
Forming secret alliance with the enemy
The internal enemies of the countries
Doubting any goodness
for their country
Spread out disorder
The confederates defeat and withdrawing empty handed.

17. In the case of war they are cowards afraid of death their eyes rolling and fainting
In the case of peace they are just greedy and are not shy to demand the bounty of Allah on his messenger with sharp language.
Be grateful to Allah Almighty.
The tremendous panic and fear .

18. 1-The instigation of Banu An-Nadir The Arab clans to exterminate the prophet because of what he did to them when they broke their promise and expelled them from Madina
2-the demanding desire of these tribes to rid of the prophet and his message.
3- Retrieving sovereignty over the region.
Diminish the Muslims' morale
Spreading disorder
Promulgate rumors
Withdraw from the Army to weaken it
If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.(14)