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How did the Battle of the Trench help defend Medina in 627?

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Medina, Saudi Arabia: Prophet's Mosque — Muhammad The Prophet's Mosque, showing the green dome built above the tomb of Muhammad, Medina, Saudi Arabia.

In March 627, the Battle of the Trench (also known as the Battle of the Ditch) proved decisive in defending Medina against a Meccan-led coalition of 10,000 men.

Rather than engaging the enemy in open battle—a strategy that had led to a defeat at Uḥud in 625—Muhammad adopted a defensive tactic unfamiliar to the Arabs of the time. Following the suggestion of his companion Salmān al-Fārisī, the Muslims dug a deep ditch across the city’s approaches to serve as a barrier.12

This innovation effectively neutralized the Meccan cavalry, who were unable to cross the trench. As the siege dragged on, the Meccan forces became frustrated and bored, and the coalition of Bedouin tribes began to dissolve. Ultimately, the Meccans were forced to disperse, marking a significant victory that solidified the political and religious strength of the Muslim community in Medina.12