Hadith: O people, do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety

عن عبد الله بن أبي أوفى رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي بَعْض أَيَّامه التي لَقِي فيها العدو انتظر، حتى إذا مَالَتِ الشمس قام فِيهم، فقال: «أَيُّها الناس، لا تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاء الْعَدُوِّ، وَاسْأَلوا الله الْعافية فَإِذا لَقِيتموهم فَاصْبِرُوا، وَاعلموا أَنَّ الْجَنَّة تحت ظِلال السُّيوف ثُمَّ قَال النَّبِي صلى الله عليه وسلم: اللهمَّ مُنزِلَ الْكتاب، وَمُجْرِيَ السَّحاب، وَهازم الأَحْزاب: اهْزِمهم، وَانصُرنا علَيهم».
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه]

‘Abdullāh ibn Abu Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during one of the days wherein he met the enemy, waited until the sun had declined. Thereafter, he stood up among them and said: "O people, do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety. And if you meet them, have patience and know that Paradise lies under the shadows of swords." Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the Clouds, Defeater of the Armies, Defeat them and help us against them!"
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim]

Explanation

The Companion ‘Abdullāh ibn Abu Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) informs in this Hadīth that when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessing be upon him) met the enemy one day, he waited and did not begin the fighting except after the sun had declined, after which he stood up among them to deliver a speech, something which is usually done after prayer. He prohibited them from wishing to meet the enemy, given the self-conceit involved in this desire, and instructed them to ask Allah, the Almighty, for safety. Thereafter, he said: “And if you meet them, have patience.” In other words, if Allah wills this to happen and you are tested with meeting the enemy, show patience and do not panic; and know that you will get one of two good things: either Allah will help you against your enemy and make you victorious over them, and thus you will win both the victory in the worldly life and the reward in the Hereafter; or you will be defeated after you have tried your best in Jihad, and you will thus have the reward in the Hereafter. “And know that Paradise lies under the shadows of swords”, meaning: Jihad leads to Paradise. Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) invoked his Lord by His Shariah and perfect power to grant the Muslims victory over their enemies. And success can only be attained through Allah, the Almighty.