A number of reports underline the distinction of the veterans of Badr. Saʿd ibn ʿUbaydah relates—from Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī—from ʿAlī: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, Abū Marthad al-Ghanawī, al-Zubayr, and al-Miqdād—each of us mounted—and said, ‘Go until you reach Rawḍat Khākh,’ a spot between Mecca and Medina.” ʿAlī went on to recount the affair of Ḥāṭib ibn Abī Baltaʿah and his secret letter to Quraysh. ʿUmar exclaimed, “Let me strike off his head, for he has betrayed Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet answered, “Is he not one of the people of Badr? And what makes you certain? Perhaps Allah has looked upon the people of Badr and said, ‘Do whatever you will; Paradise has been granted to you,’ or, ‘I have forgiven you.’” At this, ʿUmar’s eyes filled with tears and he said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” Agreed upon.

Al-Layth narrates—from Abū al-Zubayr—from Jābir—that a servant of Ḥāṭib ibn Abī Baltaʿah came to complain, saying, “Messenger of Allah, Ḥāṭib will surely enter the Fire!” The Prophet replied, “You are mistaken; he will not enter it, for he witnessed Badr and al-Ḥudaybiyyah.” Recorded by Muslim.

Yahyā ibn Saʿīd al-Anṣārī relates—from Muʿādh ibn Rifāʿah ibn Rāfiʿ al-Zurqī—whose father had fought at Badr—that he would tell his son, “I would not trade witnessing Badr for having missed the Pledge of al-ʿAqabah.” He added: “Gabriel asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘How are the people of Badr ranked among you?’ He replied, ‘They are the best of us.’ Gabriel said, ‘In the same way, the angels who were present at Badr are the best of the angels.’” Recorded by al-Bukhārī.

A number of the eminent participants at Badr include: Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, and ʿAlī; ʿUthmān was absent, having remained behind to nurse his wife Ruqayyah.