soon rallied in the field, and the Koreish wanted strength or
courage to undertake the siege of Medina.
The nations, or the ditch.
A.D. 625
[627]
It was attacked the
ensuing year by an army of ten thousand enemies; and this
third expedition is variously named from the nations, which
marched under the banner of Abu Sophian, from the ditch
which was drawn before the city, and a camp of three thousand
Musulmans. The prudence of Mahomet declined a general
engagement; the valour of Ali was signalised in single combat ;
and the war was protracted twenty days, till the final separa-
tion of the confederates. A tempest of wind, rain, and hail
overturned their tents; their private quarrels were fomented by
an insidious adversary; and the Koreish, deserted by their
allies, no longer hoped to subvert the throne, or to check the
conquests, of their invincible exile.[1]
Mahomet subdues the Jews of Arabia. A.D. 623-627 The choice of Jerusalem for the first kebla of prayer discovers the early propensity of Mahomet in favour of the Jews; and happy would it have been for their temporal interest, had they recognised, in the Arabian prophet, the hope of Israel and the promised Messiah. Their obstinacy converted his friendship into implacable hatred, with which he pursued that unfortunate people to the last moment of his life; and, in the double character of an apostle and a conqueror, his persecution was extended to both worlds.[2] The Kainoka dwelt at Medina, under the protection of the city: he seized the occasion of an accidental tumult, and summoned them to embrace his religion or contend with him in battle. Alas," replied the trembling Jews, "we are ignorant of the use of arms, but we persevere in the faith and worship of our fathers: why wilt thou reduce us to the necessity of a just defence?" The unequal conflict was terminated in fifteen days; and it was with extreme reluctance that Mahomet yielded to the importunity of his allies and con- sented to spare the lives of the captives. But their riches were confiscated; their arms became more effectual in the hands of the Musulmans; and a wretched colony of seven hundred exiles was driven with their wives and children to implore a
- ↑ For the detail of the three Koreish wars, of Beder, of Ohud, and of the ditch, peruse Abulfeda (p. 56-61, 64-69, 73-77), Gagnier (tom. ii. p. 23-45, 70-96, 120-139), with the proper articles of d'Herbelot, and the abridgments of Elmacin (Hist. Saracen. p. 6, 7) and Abulpharagius (Dynast. p. 102). [And for Bedr, the 8th Sūra of the Koran is a most important source. Gibbon misdates the siege of Medina, which belongs to March, A.D. 627.]
- ↑ The wars of Mahomet against the Jewish tribes of Kainoka, the Nadhirites, Koraidha, and Chaibar, are related by Abulfeda (p. 61, 71, 77, 87, &c.) and Gagnier (tom. ii. p. 61-65, 107-112, 139-148, 268-294).
