The Angels Helping the Messenger of Allah against the Jews
As has already been mentioned, when the armies of the Confederates came and camped at Madina, the Banu Qurayza broke the treaty they had concluded between themselves and the Messenger of Allah. When news of that reached the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, it greatly upset him and was very hard on him and the Muslims. When Allah helped him and the enemy forces retreated and went back disap pointed and empty-handed, the Messenger of Allah returned to Madina victorious and people laid down their weapons.
While the Messenger of Allah was washing off the dust of the expedition in the house of Umm Salama, may Allah be pleased with her, Jibril, peace be upon him, appeared to him with his bro- cade turban wrapped round the lower part of his face, riding on a mule on which there was a brocade saddle-cloth. He said, "Have you put down your weapons, Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Yes." He said, "But the angels have not put down theirs and will not return before seeking out the people. O Muhammad, Allah. commands you to travel to the Banu Qurayza. I am going to them and will shake them." Muhammad ibn Ishaq related it.
Then al-Bukhari says from Anas b. Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, "It is as if I could see the dust rising in the alley of the Banu Ghanm from the procession of Jibril when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went to Banu Qurayza."
Musa b. 'Uqba said in his Raids from az-Zuhri, "Jibril said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, May Allah forgive you! Have you laid down your weapons?" He said, "Yes." Jibril said, 'We have not laid them down since the time the enemy first came upon you and I was seeking them out until Allah defeat- ed them. They say that traces of dust were on Jibril's face. Jibril said to him, "Allah commands you to fight the Banu Qurayza and I am going to them with those of the angels who are with me to
shake their fortresses, so bring out the people."
"The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out after Jibril and passed by a gathering of the Banu Ghanm who were waiting for the Messenger of Allah and he asked them, 'Did a horseman just ride past by you? They replied, Dihya al-Kalbi passed by us on a white horse with a brocade cloth or rug under him wearing a bandage. They mentioned that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "That was Jibril. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say that Dihya resembled Jibril."
The Angels in the Battle of Hunayn
Allah says:
"Allah has helped you on many occasions, and on the Day of Hunayn, when your great numbers delighted you but did not avail you in any way, and the earth seemed narrow to you for all its great breadth, and you turned your backs. Then Allah sent down His Tranquillity on His Messenger and on the believers, and sent down troops you did not see, and punished those who rejected. That is the repayment of the rejectors." (9:25-26)
Ibn Kathir said, "The Almighty mentioned to the believers His bounty to them and His goodness to them in helping them on many occasions in their expeditions with His Messenger and that their success was from Him and by His support and determination, not by reason of their great numbers. He informed them that help is from Him whether the group is few or many. On the day of Hunayn they admired their numbers but this did not help them in any way and they turned in retreat, all but a few of them who stayed with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Then Allah's help and His support descended on His Messenger and on the believers who were with them to teach
them that victory is from the Almighty alone. Even if the group is small: "how many a small force has triumphed over much greater numbers by the permission of Allah. Allah is with the steadfast. (2:249)"