Narrated Rifaa:(who was one of the Badr warriors) Gabriel came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "How do you look upon the warriors of Badr among yourselves?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "As the best of the Muslims." or said a similar statement. On that, Gabriel said, "And so are the Angels who participated in the Badr (battle).
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ رِفَاعَةَ بْنِ رَافِعٍ الزُّرَقِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ وَكَانَ أَبُوهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ ـ قَالَ جَاءَ جِبْرِيلُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَا تَعُدُّونَ أَهْلَ بَدْرٍ فِيكُمْ قَالَ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ـ أَوْ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَهَا ـ قَالَ وَكَذَلِكَ مَنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ ".
Bukhari
Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi) • Hadith 43