Battle of the Trench — the Prophet's rotation among his wives

غزوة الخندق — تعاقب النبي بين نسائه

During the siege of the Confederates at the Trench, Waqidi records that the Prophet ﷺ rotated among his wives — Aisha some days, then Umm Salama, then Zaynab bint Jahsh (may God be pleased with her) — these three dwelling in the trench while the rest stayed in the fortresses of Banu Haritha. Umm Salama narrates her vigil at the Prophet's tent during the night raid.

Depth

At a glance

«كان النبي يعقب بين نسائه، فتكون عائشة أياما، ثم تكون أم سلمة، ثم تكون زينب بنت جحش، فكان هؤلاء الثلاث اللاتي يعقب بينهن في الخندق»

A verbatim excerpt of the text, forty words at most; the full text is in the edition cited under sources

Connections

Explore the connections

Mentions: Aisha bint Abi Bakr· Umm Salama (Hind bint Abi Umayya)· Zaynab bint Jahsh· Muhammad· The Battle of the Trench (al-Ahzab)· Medina

People and things also explored

Muhammad· Medina· The Hijra· The slander affair — the exoneration of Aisha read from the pulpit· Mecca· Abu Bakr leads the prayers during the final illness· The Battle of Uhud· The death of the Prophet

Sources

Kitab al-Maghazi by al-Waqidi — al-Maktaba al-Shamila digital text of the Marsden Jones edition (Oxford 1966)

Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Battle of the Trench — the Prophet's rotation among his wives”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/passage/waqidi-maghazi-khandaq/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-11-11.

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Muhammad

The Prophet of Islam (c. 570–632 CE), through whom Muslims believe the Qur'an was revealed, and the founder of the first Muslim community in Medina. The Encyclopaedia of Islam presents him both as the Messenger of God of Muslim faith, fully human, and as a historical figure, tracing his emigration to Medina in 622, the truce of al-Hudaybiya and the entry into Mecca, and it leaves the year of his birth open. It gives his death as a Monday in 632.