Ibn Isḥāq relates: Once the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had completed the digging of the trench, Quraysh advanced and camped at the confluence of the torrent-beds of Dūmah, between al-Jurf and Zaghabah, with ten thousand men drawn from their confederates—the Ahābish—and those who had joined them from Banū Kinānah, the people of Tihāmah, and others. Ghatafān, together with their allies from Najd, encamped at Dhunab Taʿmar, beside Mount Uḥud.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out with the Muslims—three thousand strong—until they placed Mount Salʿ behind their backs and camped there, the trench lying between them and the enemy.

Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab then went to Kaʿb ibn Asad al-Quraẓī, the leader of Banū Qurayẓah and the keeper of their covenant. (They had previously concluded a pact of mutual non-aggression with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.) When Kaʿb heard that Ḥuyayy had arrived, he shut the fortress gate in his face and refused to admit him.

Ḥuyayy called out, “Kaʿb, open the gate for me!”

Kaʿb answered, “You are a bearer of ill-omen. I have given Muhammad a pledge and I will not break what lies between us. From him I have seen nothing but loyalty and truthfulness.”

Ḥuyayy persisted: “Woe to you! Open up so that I may speak with you.”

Kaʿb replied, “I will not.”

Ḥuyayy retorted, “By Allah, you have barred me only because you fear I might share some of your coarse bread.” Stung by the taunt, Kaʿb opened the gate.

Ḥuyayy said, “Alas for you, Kaʿb! I have brought you the might of the age, an overwhelming flood. I have brought Quraysh with their leaders and nobles and have lodged them at the meeting point of the flood-valleys of Dūmah; I have brought Ghatafān with their leaders and nobles and have lodged them at Dhunab Taʿmar beside Uḥud. They have pledged and sworn to me that they will not depart until we have wiped out Muhammad and those with him.”

Kaʿb replied, “By Allah, you have brought me nothing but everlasting humiliation…"