[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of companions are four, and the best armies are four thousand, and they have not been defeated by a force of twelve thousand due to their small numbers." This is an authentic narration according to the conditions of the two Sheikhs (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim), and they have not excluded it. There are differences of opinion regarding this narration from Az-Zuhri from four different aspects, which I have explained in detail in the book of Al-Talkhees.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ الصَّحَابَةِ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَخَيْرُ الْجُيُوشِ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ وَلَمْ يُغْلَبِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا مِنْ قِلَّةٍ» هَذَا إِسْنَادٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ وَالْخِلَافُ فِيهِ عَلَى الزُّهْرِيِّ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةِ أَوْجُهٍ قَدْ شَرَحْتُهَا فِي كِتَابِ التَّلْخِيصِ