Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 39590 — The Battle of the Trench

It is narrated from Sayyiduna al-Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to dig the Trench, a huge rock appeared before us in a mountain, into which pickaxes would not go. We complained about this to him (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) came, and when he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw the rock, he (peace and blessings be upon him) took the pickaxe in his hand and laid down his garment, and said: "Bismillah (In the name of Allah)." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) struck one blow, and a third of the rock broke off. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)! I have been given the keys of al-Sham. By Allah, at this moment I can see its red palaces." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) struck a second blow, and another third of the rock broke off. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allahu Akbar! I have been given the keys (to the treasures) of Persia. By Allah, I can see the white palace of al-Mada'in." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) struck a third blow and said: "Bismillah!" and the rest of the rock broke, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allahu Akbar! I have been given the keys (to the treasures) of Yemen. By Allah, I can see the gates of San'a."