Ka'b Ibn Asad - The Battle of The Trench

The Battle of The Trench

In April 627 a confederacy of Arab tribes attacked Medina, led by the chief of Mecca, Abu Sufyan, and the exiled Huyayy ibn Akhtab. Their stated goal was to destroy Muhammad; they had an army of ten thousand and could easily have overpowered the Muslims if only they could enter the city. However, the Muslims had built a wide ditch around Medina, so the only possible point of entry was through the Qurayza fortresses. Huyayy therefore came to visit Ka'b to ask him to open his door and admit the invading army to Medina. According to Ibn Ishaq:

When Ka'b heard of Huyayy’s coming, he shut the door of his fort in his face, and when asked permission to enter, refused to see him, saying that he was a man of ill omen and that he himself was in treaty with Muhammad and did not intend to go back on his word because he had always found him loyal and faithful... Huyayy kept on wheedling Ka'b until at last he gave way... Thus Ka'b broke his promise and cut loose from the bond that was between him and the apostle.

A Muslim spy discovered Ka'b's intentions and managed to persuade him that the confederates were about to lift the siege and abandon him to Muhammad. Ka'b therefore asked the confederates for hostages as a pledge of good faith. But the same spy also told the confederates that Ka'b was insincere and would abuse any hostages. When the confederates refused to send hostages, Ka'b refused to open his door for them. Abu Sufyan complained, in a list of various difficulties for his army: “The Qurayza tribe have broken their word to us and we have not received what we wanted from them... Be off, for I am going!” The confederates lifted the siege.