Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 35938 — Reports on fleeing from the advancing

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he was in a raiding party. The people began to swerve about in order to flee. He said: "I too was among those who fled. As we fled from the battle we said: 'What are we to do, when we are fleeing from battle and returning having earned the wrath of Allah?' We said: 'Let us go to Madinah and spend the night there so that no one sees us.'" The narrator said: "Then when we came to Madinah we said: 'It would be better if we presented ourselves before the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). If there is room for repentance for us, we will hold to it; and if the matter is otherwise, we will go away.' We sat with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) before the morning prayer. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, we said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we are among those who fled from battle.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards us and said: 'Rather, you are those who return to the fight after withdrawing.'" The narrator said: "We drew near to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and kissed his hand and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we had intended to do such-and-such.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'I am the fi'ah (the party to which they fall back) of the Muslims.'"