It is narrated from Ibn Sirin that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote (to his governors): "Do not appoint al-Bara' bin Malik as commander (general) of any army of the Muslims, for he (in the matter of bravery) is one of the perils; he plunges ahead with the people (into such risks where there is fear of destruction). (That is, he is utterly fearless and extremely daring, and because of this very boldness he leads the army into very dangerous campaigns.)"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that he went in to his brother al-Bara' while he was lying on his back with one foot placed over the other, humming. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) forbade him, and al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do you fear that I will die on my bed, when I have single-handedly killed a hundred of the disbelievers, apart from those in whose killing other people shared with me?" This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.