Allah for well-being. If you do encounter them, stand firm, and know that Paradise lies beneath the shade of swords.’

The Prophet ﷺ then rose and supplicated: ‘O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Controller of the clouds, Vanquisher of the confederates—defeat them and grant us victory over them.’ (Agreed upon)

[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—relates, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Awfā, that the Prophet ﷺ, during one of his military expeditions, waited until the sun had declined from its zenith, meaning that it had passed midday. He did so to allow the air to cool, the shade to lengthen, and the troops to regain their vigor. When the sun had inclined, he rose and addressed them.

The Prophet ﷺ delivered both regular, established sermons—such as the Friday sermon—and occasional addresses whenever a need arose; these were very numerous. Among the words he spoke on this occasion were: ‘Do not wish to meet the enemy.’

That is, a person should not long for confrontation with the enemy and say, ‘O Allah, let me face my foe!’

‘And ask Allah for well-being,’ that is, say: ‘O Allah, grant us safety.’

‘But when you do meet them,’ when you are tried with that encounter, ‘then be steadfast.’ This is the central point of the hadith: persevere in fighting them, seek Allah’s help, and fight so that the word of Allah may be supreme.