Life-of-Muhammad

86Life of Muhammad sathe two figures relate to two different stages of thebattle. The Battle of the Ditch was fought in threestages. We had the first stage before the enemy hadcome near to Medina, and Muslims were engaged indigging the ditch. During this time, we may well assumethat in removing the excavated earth to a distance,children and, to some extent even women must havecome in to assist. In the digging of the trench we may,therefore, assume that there were altogether threethousand souls employed on the Muslim side. Thenumber included children and some women. Thechildren were able to help in carrying the earth, andwomen who always vied with the men in helping allMuslim campaigns, must have been useful in doingmany ancillary jobs connected with the digging. There isevidence to support this assumption. When the diggingstarted, even children were asked to come. Practicallythe whole population took part in the digging. But assoon as the enemy arrived and the battle began, theProphet sa ordered boys under fifteen to withdraw fromthe scene of operations. Those above fifteen were allowedto take part if they were so minded (Halbiyya, Vol. 2).From this it appears that at the time of digging, Muslimnumbers were much larger than when the battle began.At the time of the battle the very young boys had allwithdrawn. Estimates which put the Muslim numbers inthe battle at three thousand relate only to the digging,and those which put the figure at one thousand twohundred relate to the actual battle in which only grownupmales took part. The only estimate we have notaccounted for is that which puts the figure at sevenhundred. Even this estimate, according to us, is correct.It has been proposed by as reliable an authority as IbnIshaq, who is supported in this estimate by no less aperson than Ibn Hazm. It is difficult to question thisestimate. Fortunately, when we turn to the other detailsof the battle, even this estimate turns out to be correct.There is evidence to show that when the Banu Quraiza,against their plighted word, joined the enemy, and