Sunday, August 2, 2026
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Nu’aym ibn Mas‘ud: The Companion Whose Strategy Changed the Course of the Battle of the Trench

Nu’aym ibn Mas‘ud (RA) is remembered in Islamic history for his pivotal role during the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Khandaq) in the fifth year of Hijrah.At the time, the Quraysh, the Ghatafan tribe and their allies, together with the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir, had formed a coalition to attack Madinah. Banu Qurayzah, despite having a treaty with the Muslims, was also persuaded to join the alliance, creating a serious security threat from within the city.Having secretly embraced Islam without the knowledge of his tribe, Nu’aym (RA) sought permission from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to employ a strategic plan. The Prophet approved, saying, “War is deception (strategy).” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3030).Nu’aym (RA) then used diplomacy and psychological strategy to create mistrust between the coalition partners. He advised Banu Qurayzah to demand hostages from the Quraysh before joining the fighting, while warning Quraysh leader Abu Sufyan that Banu Qurayzah intended to hand any hostages over to the Muslims to regain their trust.The opposing sides soon became suspicious of each other, weakening the alliance and disrupting their coordinated military plans.According to Islamic historical accounts, the coalition's campaign ultimately collapsed after strong winds and severe weather struck their camp, forcing the allied forces to abandon the siege of Madinah.Nu’aym ibn Mas‘ud’s role is widely regarded in Islamic tradition as an example of strategic intelligence that contributed significantly to the Muslim victory during one of the most decisive moments in early Islamic history.

Nu’aym ibn Mas‘ud: The Companion Whose Strategy Changed the Course of the Battle of the Trench