Afterwards the two armies exchanged arrow fire, before finally clashing.[23] According to the Quran,[lower-alpha 2] thousands of angels descended from heaven and participated in the battle, being instructed by Allah to "smite the [Meccan warrior's] necks and smite of them each finger."[lower-alpha 3] According to another Quranic verse,[lower-alpha 4] Allah fought and killed the Meccans representatively for the Muslim warriors.[27]