2834 - Narrated Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messengerﷺwent towards the Trench and saw the Emigrants and the Ansaar digging in a very cold morning as they did not have slaves to do that for them. When he noticed their fatigue and hunger he said, "O Allah! The real life is that of the Hereafter, so forgive the Ansaar and the Emigrants." In its reply, the Emigrants and the Ansaar said, "We are those who have given a pledge of allegiance to Muhammad that we will carry on Jihaad as long as we live."
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Commentary :  The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) spared no effort or pain in serving the religion to raise the word of Allah and spread His religion, and they set the best example of sacrifice and sincerity.

In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports some of the sacrifices that occurred during the battle of the trench, which happened in the 5th year of Hijrah. The reason it was called the battle of the trench was because the Prophet ﷺ ordered the Muslims to dig a trench around al-Madeenah to protect it from the attacks of the disbelieving confederateswho rallied to attack the Muslims.The trench was a long, steep-sided ditch dug as a fortification, having a parapet of the excavated earth, and the Prophet ﷺ joined the Muslims from the Emigrants and Ansaar, in digging the trench on the northern side of al-Madeenah.

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions that the Prophet ﷺ went out one cold morning to check on the Emigrants and Ansaar who were helping in digging the trench. He ﷺ noticed that they were exhausted because they had to dig and lift the rocks by themselves,because they had no slaves or servants to take care of the work. The Prophet ﷺ wished to lift their spirits and support them emotionally to keep them motivated andencouraged them by reminding them of the immense reward made for them in the Hereafter for their hard work. He ﷺ said: “The real life is that of the Hereafter, so forgive the Ansaar and the Emigrants,” i.e., the true life that one will live is in the Hereafter where one basks in Allah’s mercy and pleasures; and then he ﷺ asked Allah to forgive the Emigrants who left their homeland and property only for the sake of Allah and His pleasure, and to forgive the Ansaar who hosted and supported the Prophet ﷺ and the Emigrants, and shared with them their property and houses. In reply to his words, they all said: “We are those who have given a pledge of allegiance to Muhammad that we will carry on Jihaad as long as we live,” i.e., the literal meaning of the word ‘pledge’ entails compensation and exchange of property, and it is thus used in this context to indicate that it was a kind of a transaction where the Prophet ﷺ promised them reward in exchange for their endeavours and fighting in the way of Allah. They pledged to fight in the way of Allah so long there was a breath left in their bodies; and they indeed honored their pledge of allegiance. We ask Allah to forgive the Emigrants and Ansaar and to write us among their group with the Prophet ﷺ.

From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning about the extreme state of fear and hardship that the Muslims experienced while digging the trench.

The hadeeth highlights the compassion of the Prophet ﷺ, and his endeavours to lift the spirits of people in dark moments and hardships. This is the trait of one who calls people to the good and does not turn them away.

The supplication of the Prophet ﷺ forthe Emigrants and Ansaar highlights their virtue and status.

Another benefit is learning that it is permissible to recite poetry while working and fighting and use it to keep spirits high.
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