—who said: “Whoever turns and runs from two men has truly fled, but the one who retreats before three has not fled,” meaning in the field of battle. Sufyān added, “I recounted this tradition to Ibn Shubruma, and he remarked, ‘The same applies to commanding right and forbidding wrong.’

Ibn Wahb recounted: “I heard Mālik being asked about a group who meet the enemy, or who are manning a watch-post when the enemy comes upon them while they are but a few. Should they stand and fight, or withdraw and alert their companions?” He replied, “If they are able to engage them, they should fight; otherwise, they should fall back to their comrades and give them warning.”