What is Sahih al-Bukhari 3820 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi)), narrated by Narrated Abu Usaid:, states: "On the day of (the battle of) Badr, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to us, "When your enemy comes near to you (i.e. overcome you by sheer number), shoot at them but use your arrows sparingly.""

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 3820 in the Book of Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#3819

#3820

Sahih al-Bukhari

#3821

›

Sahih al-Bukhari #3820

Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْغَسِيلِ، عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ، وَالْمُنْذِرِ بْنِ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ ‏ "‏ إِذَا أَكْثَبُوكُمْ ـ يَعْنِي كَثَرُوكُمْ ـ فَارْمُوهُمْ، وَاسْتَبْقُوا نَبْلَكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

On the day of (the battle of) Badr, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to us, "When your enemy comes near to you (i.e. overcome you by sheer number), shoot at them but use your arrows sparingly."

Narrated by Narrated Abu Usaid:

Context

On the day of the Battle of Badr, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed his companions on how to engage in battle when faced with overwhelming numbers. He advised them to shoot at the enemy but to conserve their arrows, highlighting the importance of strategy and resource management in warfare. This guidance reflects the significance of maintaining discipline and not wasting resources even in dire situations.

Modern Application

In modern contexts, this principle can be applied to various competitive situations, such as business or sports, where strategic resource management is crucial. It emphasizes the need to be prudent and calculated in our actions, especially when faced with challenges that may seem insurmountable.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Military Might and Warfare and Prophetic Conduct because it provides insight into the strategic thinking of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) during a critical moment in Islamic history.

Military Might and Warfare Prophetic Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ

Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍۢ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah; perhaps you will be grateful.

أَوَلَمَّآ أَصَٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّىٰ هَٰذَا ۖ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ

Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uhud], although you had struck [the enemy in the battle of Badr] with one twice as great, you said, "From where is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves." Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا

And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.

سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ

Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًۭا ۖ وَلَوْ أَرَىٰكَهُمْ كَثِيرًۭا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَلَّمَ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ

[Remember, O Muhammad], when Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter [of whether to fight], but Allah saved [you from that]. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِ ۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌۭ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ

O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.

Common Words

138 total115 unique15 repeated

ٱلله6x

من4x

إن4x

طائفة2x

معك2x

وليأخذوا2x

ٱلذين2x

كفروا2x

أسلحتكم2x

عليكم2x

على2x

فى2x

يكن2x

منكم2x

يغلبوا2x

ولقد1x

نصركم1x

ببدر1x

وأنتم1x

أذلة1x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sahih al-Bukhari

This hadith is #3820 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Usaid:.

Browse all Sahih al-Bukhari All Hadith Collections

Sahih al-Bukhari #3820

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sahih al-Bukhari

About This Hadith