ever oblige the Muslims to stand firm against more than ten times their number. Then Allah abrogated this as a concession and a mercy, saying:

“Now Allah has lightened your burden, knowing that there is weakness in you. So if there are a hundred steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred; and if there are a thousand among you, they will overcome two thousand by Allah’s permission. And Allah is with the steadfast.” [al-Anfāl: 66]

Allah Most High thus permitted the Muslims to flee from their enemies if they outnumbered them by more than two to one and they feared being overcome. Scholars have differed over how to understand this twofold measure. Some understood it in terms of numbers: Muslims must therefore stand firm against twice their number of polytheists, even if the latter are better armed and display greater endurance and strength. This is the view of most scholars.

Others understood it in terms of endurance and strength. Accordingly, Muslims must stand firm against more than twice their number if they themselves are better armed and possess greater endurance and strength. Conversely, they are not obliged to stand firm even against fewer than twice their number if the polytheists are better armed, possess greater endurance and strength, and the Muslims fear being overcome. This is the view of Ibn al-Mājishūn, which he also transmitted from Mālik.

Fleeing the battlefield when the enemy is less than twice the Muslims’ strength—whether measured by numbers or by endurance and strength, according to the disagreement just mentioned—is a major sin according to Mālik and his companions. Ibn al-Qāsim said that the testimony of someone who has fled the battlefield is inadmissible. Nor may they flee even if their commander flees, because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:

“Whoever turns his back on them that day…” [al-Anfāl: 16], to the end of the verse.

This applies so long as the Muslims do not number twelve thousand. If they reach twelve thousand, they may not flee even if the polytheists outnumber them by more than two to one, because the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“Twelve thousand will not be defeated for lack of numbers.”

Most scholars have used this hadith to exclude a force of this size from the general scope of the verse. A report from Mālik indicates that this was his position, as does his reply to al-‘Umarī, the devout worshipper, when he asked whether he had any latitude to refrain from fighting those who altered and replaced the rulings. He said: “If you have twelve thousand men like yourself with you, you have no latitude to do so.”

It has also been said that the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:

“Whoever turns his back on them that day—unless maneuvering for battle or joining another company—has incurred Allah’s wrath. His refuge is Hell—what an evil destination!” [al-Anfāl: 16]

apply specifically to those who fought at Badr, because they were not permitted to leave the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—with his enemy