It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that news reached him that Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) had been besieged (by the enemy) in Syria and that people had gathered against him. So Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to him: "Peace be upon you. To proceed: no state of hardship befalls a believing servant except that Allah Almighty brings about relief after it, and one hardship will never overcome two eases. (Allah Almighty says:) 'O you who believe, be patient, persevere, stand guard (at the frontiers), and fear Allah so that you may succeed' [Surah Al Imran: 200] ." (The narrator said:) Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote back to him: "Peace be upon you. To proceed: Allah Almighty says in His Book: 'Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, adornment, boasting among yourselves, and rivalry in increasing wealth and children' (to the end) [Surah Al-Hadid: 20] ." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came out with his letter, sat on the pulpit and read it out to the people of Madinah, then said: O people of Madinah, Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) is hinting to you (through this letter) that you should develop a desire for jihad. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Muslim, and the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said (in explanation of verse 200): "In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) there was no battle (of this kind) in which (constant) guard was kept; rather, in this verse, 'Be patient, persevere, and stand guard' [Surah Al Imran: 200] , (standing guard means) waiting for one prayer after another." This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, and the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.