Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The best number of companions is four, the best number for small battalions (sarāyā) is four hundred, and the best number for large armies (juyūsh) is four thousand. And twelve thousand fighters are never defeated due to small numbers.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2275, 2611; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1555; Al-Ḥākim: 1/443; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2538; Musnad Aḥmad: 1/294; Ibn Ḥibbān: 4717; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 9699; Al-Dārimī: 2/215; Mushkil al-Āthār: 1/328; Al-Bayhaqī: 9/156]
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“The Prophet’s ﷺ flag (rāyah) was black, and his standard (liwāʾ) was white.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ibn Mājah: 2274, 2818; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1681; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 2274; Al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2100; Al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr by al-Bukhārī: 214, 325]
During confrontations with the enemy, the Prophet ﷺ would arrange his armies in ranks. For instance, during the Battle of Uḥud, the Prophet ﷺ assigned archers to the mountain and commanded them to remain in their positions, even if they witnessed birds snatching away the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3039 — Book of Jihād and Expeditions: Chapter on Disliked Disputes During War and the Punishment for Disobeying the Leader]
Narrated by Jābir (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah while carrying a white banner.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Abū Dāwūd: 2259, 2592; Ibn Mājah: 2817; Al-Nasāʾī: 2766; Al-Ḥākim: 2/104]
Narrated by Ḥārith ibn Ḥassān (رضي الله عنه):
“I saw black flags in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 2272; Al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2100; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 4/196; Tuḥfah al-Ashrāf: 5/328; Ibn Mājah: 2816]
It is reported that the Prophet’s ﷺ banner bore the inscription:
"لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ"
[Reported by: Al-Ṭabarānī in Al-Awsaṭ: 2702.
Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله) classified it as weak in Nayl al-Awṭār: 4/706]
The military structure in Islam under the Prophet ﷺ was organized and strategic:
✿ Arranging Military Units and Assigning Flags and Emblems
➊ The Prophet ﷺ Prescribed Specific Numbers for Military Units
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The best number of companions is four, the best number for small battalions (sarāyā) is four hundred, and the best number for large armies (juyūsh) is four thousand. And twelve thousand fighters are never defeated due to small numbers.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2275, 2611; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1555; Al-Ḥākim: 1/443; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2538; Musnad Aḥmad: 1/294; Ibn Ḥibbān: 4717; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 9699; Al-Dārimī: 2/215; Mushkil al-Āthār: 1/328; Al-Bayhaqī: 9/156]
➋ Color of the Prophet’s ﷺ Flag and Standard
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“The Prophet’s ﷺ flag (rāyah) was black, and his standard (liwāʾ) was white.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ibn Mājah: 2274, 2818; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1681; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 2274; Al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2100; Al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr by al-Bukhārī: 214, 325]
➌ The Prophet ﷺ Strategically Arranged Forces During Battle
During confrontations with the enemy, the Prophet ﷺ would arrange his armies in ranks. For instance, during the Battle of Uḥud, the Prophet ﷺ assigned archers to the mountain and commanded them to remain in their positions, even if they witnessed birds snatching away the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3039 — Book of Jihād and Expeditions: Chapter on Disliked Disputes During War and the Punishment for Disobeying the Leader]
➍ The Prophet ﷺ Entered Makkah with a White Banner
Narrated by Jābir (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah while carrying a white banner.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Abū Dāwūd: 2259, 2592; Ibn Mājah: 2817; Al-Nasāʾī: 2766; Al-Ḥākim: 2/104]
➎ Black Flags Were Seen in the Prophet’s ﷺ Mosque
Narrated by Ḥārith ibn Ḥassān (رضي الله عنه):
“I saw black flags in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 2272; Al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2100; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 4/196; Tuḥfah al-Ashrāf: 5/328; Ibn Mājah: 2816]
❀ Inscription on the Prophet’s ﷺ Banner
It is reported that the Prophet’s ﷺ banner bore the inscription:
"لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ"
[Reported by: Al-Ṭabarānī in Al-Awsaṭ: 2702.
Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله) classified it as weak in Nayl al-Awṭār: 4/706]
✔ Summary:
The military structure in Islam under the Prophet ﷺ was organized and strategic:
- Specific numbers were designated for companions, battalions, and full armies.
- Flags and banners had symbolic colors: black for flags, white for standards.
- The Prophet ﷺ personally arranged military ranks and gave strict tactical instructions.
- Banners bore Islamic declarations, reflecting spiritual and ideological resolve.
- These practices highlight the discipline and unity in Islamic warfare guided by Prophetic instruction.
