The Muslim were now in parlous state.  The trench might avail to stop the enemy for a time, but an opportunity was sure to occur when they would attempt a crossing, and once within the city Mahomet knew they would carry destruction before them, and irretrievable ruin to his cause.  His Jewish enemies made common enmity against him with the Kureisch, and the Disaffected declared their intention of joining the rest of his foes.  But he would not yield, and continued unabashed to defend the trench and city with all the skill and energy he could command from his harassed followers.

The Kureisch remained several days inactive, but at last Abu Jahl discovered a weak spot in his enemies’ line where the trench was narrow and undefended.  He determined on immediate attack, and sent a troop of horsemen to clear the ditch and give battle on the opposite side.  The move was noticed from within the defence.  Ali and a body of picked men were sent to frustrate it.  Ali reached the ground just as the foremost of the Kureisch cleared the ditch and prepared to advance upon the city.  Swiftly he leapt from his horse, and challenged an aged chief of the Kureisch to single combat.  The gage was accepted, but the chieftain could stand up to Ali no better than a reed stands upright before the wind that shakes it.  The chief was slain before the eyes of his friend, and thereupon the general onslaught began.  The Muslim fought like those possessed, until in a little space there remained not one of the defiant party that had recently crossed the gulf between the armies.  But the Kureisch were undaunted; the order for a general attack upon the trench was now ordered.  The assault began in the early morning and continued throughout the day.  For long weary hours, without respite and with very little sustenance the Muslin army kept the Kureisch host at bay.  The encounters were sharp and prolonged, and none of the men could be spared from the strife to make their daily devotions to Allah.

“They have kept us from our prayers,” declared Mahomet in wrath, as he watched the unresting attack, “God fill their bellies and their graves with fire!”

He cursed the Infidel dogs, while exhorting his men to stand firm, and before all things keep their lines unbroken.  The attack was repulsed, but not without great loss and misery upon Mahomet’s side.  His prestige was now entirely lost among the citizens, only the Faithful still rallied round him out of their invincible trust in his personality.  The Disaffected began to foment agitation within the narrow streets, the bazaars and public places.  There was great distress among the people of Medina; scarcity of food mingled with their fears for the future to create an insecurity wherein crime finds its dwelling-place and brutality its fostering soil.  “Then were the Faithful tried, and with strong quaking did they quake.”  Nevertheless, they stood firm, and took no part in the murmuring of the Disaffected, and presently Allah sent them down succour for their steadfastness and high courage.