—vast and all-embracing—except to the one who is truthful and truly affirms the truth. Have you not heard the words of Allah:
“Allah has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession in the land just as He granted it to those before them” (Al-Nur 24:55).
So be ashamed—may Allah have mercy on you—before your Lord that He should see you fleeing from your enemy while you are still in His grip; you have no refuge apart from Him and no honor except through Him.
‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās said: “O Muslims, lower your gaze, drop to your knees, and level your spears. When they charge, hold firm; then, once they are impaled upon the spear-points, spring upon them with a lion’s leap. By the One Who is pleased with truth and rewards it, Who hates falsehood and repays goodness with goodness, I have heard that the Muslims will open this land village by village and fortress by fortress. (1) Therefore, let neither their masses nor their numbers alarm you, for if you meet them sincerely in the clash they will scatter like partridge chicks.”
Abu Sufyān said: “O Muslims, you are Arabs who have awakened in the domain of non-Arabs, cut off from your families, (2) far from the Commander of the Believers and the reinforcements of the Muslims. By Allah, you now face an enemy many in number and burning with rage against you; (3) you have struck them in their persons, their lands, and their women. By Allah, nothing will save you from these people, and nothing will bring you to Allah’s pleasure tomorrow, except a true encounter and patience in the hated moments. Know that this is an immutable law, and the land lies behind you: deserts and wastes stretch between you and the Commander of the Believers and the main body of Muslims. No one there has a fortress or a refuge but patience and hope in what Allah has promised, and that is the best reliance. So shield yourselves with your swords, help one another, and let them be your strongholds.”
He then went to the women, counselled them, and returned, calling out: “O people of Islam, the matter before you is present and plain: the Messenger of Allah and Paradise are before you, (4) while Satan and the Fire are behind you.” He then went to his station (may Allah have mercy on him).
Abu Hurayrah also admonished the people, saying: “Race toward the wide-eyed maidens and the nearness of your Lord—exalted is He—in the gardens of bliss. In no station are you more beloved to your Lord than in one like this. Truly, the patient have their special rank.”
Sayf ibn ‘Umar reports through his chain from his teachers (5) that in that gathering there were one thousand Companions, a hundred of whom had fought at Badr.
Abu Sufyān made his way to every battalion, proclaiming: “Fear Allah, fear Allah! You are the heart of the Arabs and the supporters of Islam, while they are the heart of Byzantium and the supporters of polytheism. O Allah, this is one of Your days; O Allah, send down Your help upon Your servants.”
They relate that when Khālid arrived from Iraq, an Arab Christian said to him, “How many the Byzantines are, and how few the Muslims!” Khālid replied: