غزوۂ احزاب کے سیرتی مباحث پر: تفسیرِ بیان القرآن اور سیرت ابن ہشام کے بیانیہ کا تحقیقی تجزیہ

An Analytical Study of the Sīrah Discussions on the Battle of al-Ahzab: A Comparative Reading of Bayān al-Qurʾān and Sīrat Ibn Hishām

Abstract

The Battle of al-Ahzab (the Battle of the Trench) represents one of the most decisive episodes in the Prophetic biography, marking a critical phase in the consolidation of the nascent Muslim community in Madinah. Besides its historical significance, the event occupies a prominent place in the Qur'anic discourse, particularly in Surah al-Ahzab, where it is presented as a profound test of faith, leadership, perseverance, and divine support. Muslim exegetes have extensively relied on the classical works of Sīrah and Maghāzī to elucidate the Qur'anic account of this expedition. In this context, the present study critically examines the Sīrah-related discussions on the Battle of al-Ahzab presented in Bayān al-Qurʾān in comparison with the narrative of Sīrat Ibn Hishām. Employing a qualitative, analytical, and comparative research methodology, the study explores areas of convergence and divergence between the two works concerning the causes of the battle, the role of Banū Naḍīr, the coalition of hostile tribes, the excavation of the trench, the strategies adopted by the Prophet ﷺ, the role of Nuʿaym ibn Masʿūd, the duel between ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib and ʿAmr ibn ʿAbd Wudd, and the trial of the believers during the siege. The findings reveal that both works largely agree on the major historical events while differing in the level of detail, narrative emphasis, and interpretive approach. Bayān al-Qurʾān primarily highlights the exegetical, educational, and spiritual dimensions of the event, whereas Sīrat Ibn Hishām preserves a more detailed chronological and historical narrative. The study demonstrates the complementary relationship between Qur'anic exegesis and classical Sīrah literature in reconstructing and understanding the historical and theological dimensions of the Battle of al-Ahzab.