The following is from a work-in-progress called The Qur'an: a Book Report, in which I read each surah of the Qur'an and write about what I learn.
This is a Medinan surah that takes its title from a reference to the Battle of the Trench, in which an army of various tribes besieged Medina, where Muhammad and his followers were living after the hijra (or migration) from Mecca. The out-numbered Muslims dug a trench, which the joint forces were unable to cross. After a powerful sandstorm, they retreated. This victory was seen as a sign of divine favor. Like many Medinan surahs, this one also gives various laws and regulations dealing with marriage, family, and communal life.
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| The Battle of the Trench |
