Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
From this hadith, the virtue of archery is established in such a way that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) praised Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (radi Allahu anhu) for his archery.
It is understood from this that the martial arts in which one attains proficiency with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah Most High possess great virtue and ranks.
In the present age, mastery of all contemporary instruments of warfare can be analogized to this. It is greatly regrettable that Muslims have completely neglected these virtuous deeds, the consequence of which they are suffering in the form of various punishments.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used these very words for Zubair (radi Allahu anhu) on the occasion of the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwah Khandaq).
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet, Hadith 3720)
Perhaps Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was not aware of this.
By this phrase, what is meant is to supplicate for him and to express his approval.

➋
From this hadith, the virtue of archery is established, in that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) praised Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (radi Allahu anhu) for his archery.
It is understood from this that seeking the pleasure of Allah Most High by attaining proficiency in the arts of warfare is a cause of great virtue.

➌
All modern instruments of warfare can be analogized to this.
Furthermore, the archer must also protect himself, which is not possible without a shield.
On this basis, the necessity of a shield cannot be overlooked.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In these hadiths, a great honor of Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu is mentioned, that for him the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself said:
“Shoot (arrows), may my father and mother be sacrificed for you.”
On the occasion of the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwah Khandaq), the same words were said by him regarding Zubair bin al-Awwam radi Allahu anhu.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3720.)

➋
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah says:
Perhaps Ali radi Allahu anhu was not aware that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had also said these words regarding Zubair radi Allahu anhu, or what he meant was that the aforementioned honor on the day of Uhud was not given to anyone except Sa’d radi Allahu anhu.
(Fath al-Bari: 7/107)

➌
In the hadiths, the reason for this incident is also mentioned:
Sa’d radi Allahu anhu says that when, during the Battle of Uhud, people were afflicted with severe hardship, I moved aside (and in my heart)
said:
I will defend myself,
or I will attain salvation,
or I will be martyred.
During this, I saw a man whose face was covered in blood and the polytheists had surrounded him. He took some pebbles in his hand and threw them at the polytheists. Then Miqdad radi Allahu anhu came between me and that man.
I wanted to ask him about that person, but he himself said to me:
O Sa’d! This is the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and he is calling you.
I got up from there, as if I had no pain at all.
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam seated me in front of him, so I began shooting arrows at the polytheists.
Then he said:
“O Sa’d! Shoot (arrows), may my father and mother be sacrificed for you.”
(Fath al-Bari: 7/448)
In any case, Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu was a very skilled archer.
During the Battle of Uhud, when the disbelievers launched an attack against the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he shot arrows in such a way that not a single disbeliever could come near the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
And Allah knows best.

(1)
Hazrat Zubair radi Allahu anhu also attained this honor, as mentioned in Hadith 123.
Either Hazrat Ali radi Allahu anhu was not aware of this, or regarding Hazrat Zubair radi Allahu anhu, Hazrat Ali radi Allahu anhu did not hear these words directly from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, whereas these words were spoken to Hazrat Sa’d radi Allahu anhu in the presence of Hazrat Ali radi Allahu anhu.

(2)
Shooting arrows at the enemy holds just as much importance as fighting with the sword.
In the present era, projectile weapons have great significance, whether it is the bullet of a rifle or Kalashnikov, or the shell of any kind of cannon or tank, or missiles, etc.—using all these against the disbelievers is a means of attaining the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, Muslims should prepare every type of weapon for jihad and should learn how to use them.