يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَآءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا
Commentary:
With this verse begins an account of the Battle of the Ditch. This battle which took place in the 5th year of the Hijrahwas the fiercest encounter in which the Muslims had so far been engaged. The whole of Arabia rose like one man against Islam. The Quraish of Mecca, their allies, the Ghatfan, the Ashja‘ and Murrah, the Fararah, the Sulaim and the Banu Sa‘d and Banu Asad, the desert tribes of Central Arabia, aided and abetted by the perfidious Jews and treacherous "Hypocrites"of Medina formed themselves into a grand confederacy against the Holy Prophet. A mighty force numbering from ten to twenty thousand strong was pitched against 1200 (according to some writers 3000 Muslims, including women and children, were employed in digging the Ditch) ill-prepared and ill-provisioned Muslims. The siege of Medina lasted from fifteen days to four weeks, according to different versions after which the forces of darkness melted away without inflicting any serious loss upon the Muslims. Islam emerged stronger from this severe ordeal and the disbelieving Quraish were never again able to march against Muslims in force.
The reference in the word ریحا (wind) is to the strong cold wind which blew upon the confederated hosts and uprooted their tents and extinguished their fires. Says William Muir:
"Forage was obtained with the utmost difficulty; provisions were running short, and the camels and horses dying daily in great numbers; wearied and damped in spirit, the night set in upon them, cold and tempestuous wind and rain beat mercilessly on the unprotected camp. The storm rose to a hurricane. Fires were extinguished, tents blown down, cooking vessels and other equipage overthrown". ("The Life of Mahomet").
The words "and hosts that you saw not" refer to the forces of nature—wind, rain and cold which wearied the disbelievers and damped their spirits. It may also refer to the hosts of angels which cast fear in the hearts of disbelievers and heartened and encouraged the Muslims.
With this verse begins an account of the Battle of the Trench which took place in the 5th year of the Hijrah and was the fiercest encounter in which the Muslims had so far been engaged. The whole of Arabia rose like one man against Islam. The Quraish of Mecca, their allies, the Ghatafan, the Ashja‘ and Murrah, the Fazarah, the Sulaim and the Banu Sa‘d and Banu Asad, the desert tribes of Central Arabia, aided and abetted by the perfidious Jews and treacherous Hypocrites of Medina, formed themselves into a grand confederacy against the Holy Prophet. A mighty force numbering from ten to twenty thousand strong was pitched against 1200 (according to some writers 3000 Muslims including women and children were employed in digging the Trench) ill-prepared and ill- provisioned Muslims. The siege of Medina lasted from fifteen days to four weeks. Islam emerged stronger from this severe ordeal and the disbelieving Quraish were never again able to march against Muslims in force.
Forces of nature—wind, rain and cold which wearied the disbelievers and damped their spirits. The words may also refer to the hosts of angels which cast fear in the hearts of disbelievers and heartened and encouraged the Muslims. Says William Muir: 'Forage was obtained with the utmost difficulty; provisions were running short, and the camels and horses dying daily in great numbers; wearied and damped in spirit the night set in upon them, cold and tempestuous wind and rain beat mercilessly on the unprotected camp. The storm rose to a hurricane. Fires were extinguished, tents blown down, cooking vessels and other equipage overthrown' ("Life of Muhammad").