Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2900
sahih

Narrated Abu Usaid:

On the day (of the battle) of Badr when we stood in rows against (the army of) Quraish and they stood in rows against us, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When they do come near you, throw arrows at them."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْغَسِيلِ، عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ حِينَ صَفَفْنَا لِقُرَيْشٍ وَصَفُّوا لَنَا ‏

‏ إِذَا أَكْثَبُوكُمْ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالنَّبْلِ ‏

‏‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 56, Hadith 114
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 4, Book 52, Hadith 149 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Great Battle of Badr was the first battle between the Prophet ﷺ and the disbelievers, and it served as the criterion between (truth and falsehood, and between) belief and disbelief. Therefore, Allah, Exalted is He, called it ‘the Day of Al-Furqaan (lit., criterion),’ and the people of Badr, meaning those who participated in the battle, were blessed with the forgiveness of their sins, as stated by the Prophet ﷺ. In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ instructed his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), as their leader in the Battle of Badr, while they were standing in rows against (the army of) Quraysh. He ﷺsaid, "When they come near you, throw arrows at them,” meaning shoot your arrows (only) when they become near enough, within the range of your arrows, but not too close, within engagement range. The Prophet ﷺ commanded them to fire arrows at their enemies when they became within engagement range of the arrows to ensure that they would most likely hit them.Were they to shoot their arrows while they were out of their range, it would be a waste of arrows, especially given that the number of the disbelievers’ army was three times the number of the Muslims’ army! Therefore, shooting arrows at the disbelievers would help the Muslims deflect and hinder their attack. The Battle of Badr took place in Ramadan in 2 A.H., and Allah, Exalted is He, granted the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions(may Allah be pleased with them) victory over the disbelievers of Quraysh. The hadeeth urges Muslimsto learn archery and martial arts. .