An elder says that when Ubaydullah intended to fight the Khawarij, Abdullah bin Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote him a letter. I said to his scribe, "who was my friend," to give me a copy of it, so he gave me a copy. The letter was as follows: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say, "Do not wish to meet the enemy, but ask Allah for safety. And when you do meet them, then show steadfastness, and know that Paradise is under the shade of swords." Then the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would wait for the decline of the sun, and after that, he would attack the enemy and would supplicate: "O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds, Defeater of the armies! Defeat them and grant us victory."