Leaving the fight when the number of disbelievers is large

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah honor you, if the number of the disbelieving enemy is added to the number of Muslims and is very large, is it considered fleeing and turning one’s back on the day of battle if the Muslims leave the fight?

Answer:
As for when they meet the disbelievers in battle, the commander looks at the situation. If the number of disbelievers is greater and the number of Muslims is very small, they may withdraw, because this is harm and it does not lead to a major outcome; they might crush the Muslims. But if the Muslims have strength, they fight, even if their number is small, provided they have strength, weapons, and so on. This follows the judgment of the one in authority, the commander. If the public benefit lies in fighting the disbelievers, he fights them. If the public benefit lies in making a truce with them and leaving them alone, he does that in order to spare the Muslims, as Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) did in the Battle of Mu’tah, when he led the Muslims to the side until he saved them from the disbelievers. Yes.