He also related: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed his Companions not to advance until he gave the order, adding, ‘If the enemy surrounds you, drive them off with your arrows.’

Al-Bukhārī records—on the authority of Abū Usayd—that on the Day of Badr the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to us: ‘If they crowd in upon you—the idolaters, that is—shoot at them, but conserve your arrows.’

Al-Bayhaqī transmits, through al-Ḥākim, al-Aṣamm, Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār, Yūnus ibn Bukayr, and Ibn Isḥāq, from [ʿUmar ibn] ʿAbd Allāh [ibn ʿUrwah ibn ʿUrwah] ibn al-Zubayr, who said: ‘On the Day of Badr the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fixed the battle cry of the Emigrants as “O sons of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān!” The battle cry of the Khazraj was “O sons of ʿAbd Allāh!” and that of the Aws, “O sons of ʿUbayd Allāh!” He also named his cavalry “The Cavalry of Allah.”’

Ibn Hishām notes that the Companions’ overall rallying call at Badr was: ‘Aḥad, Aḥad’—‘The One, the One.’

Ibn Isḥāq adds: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the shelter (ʿarīsh) with Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—imploring Allah, Majestic and Exalted, just as He says: “When you implored your Lord for help, He answered you, ‘I will reinforce you with a thousand angels, rank upon rank. Allah made this only a glad tiding so that your hearts might be reassured; victory comes only from Allah. Truly Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.’” (al-Anfāl 8:9–10).’

Imām Aḥmad relates: Abū Nūḥ Qurād told us, ʿIkrimah ibn ʿAmmār told us, Sammāk al-Ḥanafī Abū Zumayl told me, Ibn ʿAbbās told me, from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb who said: ‘On the Day of Badr the Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked at his Companions, who numbered a little over three hundred, and then looked at the idolaters, who were more than a thousand. He turned toward the qiblah, wearing his mantle and waist-wrapper, and said: “O Allah, grant me what You have promised me! O Allah, if this small band of Muslims is destroyed, You will not be worshipped on earth ever again.” He continued imploring his Lord and supplicating until his cloak slipped from his shoulders. Abū Bakr came, picked up the cloak and placed it back on him, then embraced him from behind and said, “O Messenger of Allah, enough of your entreaty to your Lord; He will surely fulfill for you what He has promised.” Then Allah revealed: “When you implored your Lord for help, He answered you, ‘I will reinforce you with a thousand angels, rank upon rank.’”’ He went on to mention the remainder of the report, to be cited later.