On the slopes of the Sal hill on Medina's northwestern edge stands a cluster of small mosques associated with the Battle of the Trench (627 CE), one of the decisive moments in early Islamic history. When a coalition of ten thousand soldiers marched on Medina, the Muslim community responded by digging a defensive trench across the northern approaches — a Persian-inspired tactic that the attacking cavalry could not cross.
The site was the Muslim command centre during the battle. Today six mosques remain (the seventh was lost to construction). The largest, Masjid al-Fath — the Mosque of Victory — marks the spot where the Prophet reportedly received the revelation promising victory. The other mosques mark positions held by various companions. The hill itself offers a good view over the north of Medina, and the site gives a clear sense of the natural topography that shaped the battle.