That he heard the Prophet ﷺ on the day (of the battle) of Khaibar saying, "I will give the flag to a person at whose hands Allah will grant victory." So, the companions of the Prophet ﷺ got up, wishing eagerly to see to whom the flag will be given, and everyone of them wished to be given the flag. But the Prophet asked for ʿAli. Someone informed him that he was suffering from eye-trouble. So, he ordered them to bring ʿAli in front of him. Then the Prophet ﷺ spat in his eyes and his eyes were cured immediately as if he had never any eye-trouble. ʿAli said, "We will fight with them (i.e. infidels) till they become like us (i.e. Muslims)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Be patient, till you face them and invite them to Islam and inform them of what Allah has enjoined upon them. By Allah! If a single person embraces Islam at your hands (i.e. through you), that will be better for you than the red camels."

اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْد ٍ ؓ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَقَامُوا يَرْجُونَ لِذَلِكَ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَى فَغَدَوْا وَكُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَى فَقَالَ أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ فَقِيلَ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَمَرَ فَدُعِيَ لَهُ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَبَرَأَ مَكَانَهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ شَىْءٌ فَقَالَ نُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا فَقَالَ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يُهْدَى بِكَ رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ

On the day (of the battle) of Khaibar the Prophet ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give the flag to somebody who will be given victory (by Allah) and who loves Allah and His Apostle and is loved by Allah and His Apostle." So, the people wondered all that night as to who would receive the flag and in the morning everyone hoped that he would be that person. Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "Where is ʿAli?" He was told that ʿAli was suffering from eye-trouble, so he applied saliva to his eyes and invoked Allah to cure him. He at once got cured as if he had no ailment. The Prophet ﷺ gave him the flag. ʿAli said, "Should I fight them till they become like us (i.e. Muslim)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Go to them patiently and calmly till you enter the land. Then, invite them to Islam, and inform them what is enjoined upon them, for, by Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels."

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلاً يُفْتَحُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَى فَغَدَوْا كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُوهُ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ فَقِيلَ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ فَقَالَ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا فَقَالَ انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلاً خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man with whose leadership Allah will grant (the Muslim) victory." So the people kept on thinking the whole night as to who would be given the flag. The next morning the people went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and every one of them hoped that he would be given the flag. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Where is ʿAli bin Abi Talib?" The people replied, "He is suffering from eye trouble, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said, "Send for him and bring him to me." So when ʿAli came, the Prophet ﷺ spat in his eyes and invoked good on him, and be became alright as if he had no ailment. The Prophet ﷺ then gave him the flag. ʿAli said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Shall I fight them (i.e. enemy) till they become like us?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Proceed to them steadily till you approach near to them and then invite them to Islam and inform them of their duties towards Allah which Islam prescribes for them, for by Allah, if one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالُوا يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأْتُونِي بِهِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ بَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا فَقَالَ انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ فِيهِ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلاً وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of Khaybar: “Tomorrow I will surely give this banner to a man at whose hands Allah will grant victory; he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.” So the people spent that night discussing among themselves which of them would be given it. When morning came, the people went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, each of them hoping he would be given it.

He ﷺ asked, “Where is ʿAlī b. Abū Ṭālib?” It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, he is suffering from pain in his eyes." He said: “Send for him.” So he was brought. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat into his eyes and made dua for him, and he recovered as though he had never had any pain. Then he gave him the banner.

ʿAlī said, "O Messenger of Allah, shall I fight them until they become like us?" He said: “Proceed calmly until you come upon their courtyard, then call them to Islam and inform them of what is obligatory upon them of Allah’s right therein. For by Allah, if Allah guides through you a single man, that is better for you than having red camels.”

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ: «لأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ، يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ»، قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا، 

فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» فَقِيلَ: هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ، قَالَ: «فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ»، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ، فَبَصَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ، وَدَعَا لَهُ، فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ، فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ 

فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟ فَقَالَ: «انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ، ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ فِيهِ، فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلاً وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ».

I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Messenger of Allah ﷺ all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Messenger of Allah, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and conferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Messenger of Allah, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels.

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُونَ أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالُوا هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ قَالَ فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا فَقَالَ انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ فِيهِ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلاً وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ

from his father, saying "Mu'awiyah bin Abu Sufyan ordered Sa'd, saying 'What prevented you from reviling Abu Turab?' He said: 'Three things that I remember from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prevent me from reviling him. That I should have even one those things is more beloved to me than red camels. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ speaking to 'Ali, and he had left him behind in one of his battles. So 'Ali said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! You leave me behind with women and children?" So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: "Are you not pleased that you should be in the position with me that Harun was with Musa? Except that there is no Prophethood after me?" And on the Day of (the battle of) Khaibar, I heard him saying: "I shall give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him." So we all waited for that, then he said: "Call 'Ali for me." He said: 'So he came to him, and he had been suffering from Ramad (an eye condition), so he ﷺ put spittle in his eye and gave the banner to him, then Allah granted him victory. And when this Ayah was revealed: 'Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women...' (3:61) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called 'Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husain and said: "O Allah, these are my family."

أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتُ ثَلاَثًا قَالَهُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَنْ أَسُبَّهُ لأَنْ تَكُونَ لِي وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لِعَلِيٍّ وَخَلَفَهُ فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِيهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُخَلِّفُنِي مَعَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ لاَ نُبُوَّةَ بَعْدِي وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلاً يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ فَتَطَاوَلْنَا لَهَا فَقَالَ ادْعُ لِي عَلِيًّا فَأَتَاهُ وَبِهِ رَمَدٌ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنِهِ فَدَفَعَ الرَّايَةَ إِلَيْهِ فَفَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ ( فَقلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ ) الآيَةَ دَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيًّا وَفَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَيْنًا فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلاَءِ أَهْلِي

What prevents you from abusing Abu Turab (Hadrat 'Ali), whereupon be said: It is because of three things which I remember Messenger of Allah ﷺ having said about him that I would not abuse him and even if I find one of those three things for me, it would be more dear to me than the red camels. I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ say about 'Ali as he left him behind in one of his campaigns (that was Tabuk). 'Ali said to him: Messenger of Allah, you leave me behind along with women and children. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: Aren't you satisfied with being unto me what Aaron was unto Moses but with this exception that there is no prophethood after me. And I (also) heard him say on the Day of Khaibar: I would certainly give this standard to a person who loves Allah and his Messenger, and Allah and his Messenger love him too. He (the narrator) said: We had been anxiously waiting for it, when he (the Holy Prophet) said: Call 'Ali. He was called and his eyes were inflamed. He applied saliva to his eyes and handed over the standard to him, and Allah gave him victory. (The third occasion is this) when the (following) verse was revealed: "Let us summon our children and your children." Messenger of Allah ﷺ called 'Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain and said: O Allah, they are my family. (Using translation from Muslim 2404d)

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لَهُ وَخَلَّفَهُ فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِيهِ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَتُخَلِّفُنِي مَعَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ؟ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ أَمَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلا أَنَّهُ لَا نُبُوَّةَ بَعْدِي وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَتَطَاوَلْنَا لَهَا فَقَالَ ادْعُوا لِي عَلِيًّا فَأُتِيَ بِهِ أَرْمَدَ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنِهِ وَدَفَعَ الرَّايَةَ إِلَيْهِ فَفَتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ {نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ} [آل عمران 61] دَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَلِيًّا وَفَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَيْنًا رِضْوَانُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ اللهُمَّ هَؤُلاءِ أَهْلِي

I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Messenger of Allah ﷺ all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Messenger of Allah, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and conferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Messenger of Allah, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels. (Using translation from Muslim 2406)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا؟ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟ فَقَالَ هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ قَالَ فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا فَقَالَ انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللهِ فِيهِ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ

[AI] Muawiya said to Saad bin Abi Waqqas, "What prevents you from insulting Ibn Abi Talib?" Saad replied, "I do not insult what I mentioned three times, which the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said. It is more beloved to me than the red camels." Muawiya asked, "What are they, O Abu Ishaq?" Saad replied, "I do not insult him what I mentioned when the revelation came down upon him, and he took Ali and his two sons and Fatimah and hid them under his garment, then said, 'O Lord, these are the people of my household.' And I do not insult him what I mentioned when he left me behind in the Battle of Tabuk, which the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, led. Ali said to him, 'You left me with the children and women.' He replied, 'Do you not like to be to me like Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophethood after me?' And I do not insult him what I mentioned on the day of Khaybar, when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, 'I will give this banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah will grant victory through his hands.' So, we rushed towards the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and he asked, 'Where is Ali?' They told him that he had sore eyes. He said, 'Call him.' When Ali came, the Prophet spat in his face and then gave him the banner. Allah granted him victory. I swear by Allah, Muawiya did not mention anything correctly until he left the city."

قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تَسُبَّ ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا أَسُبُّ مَا ذَكَرْتُ ثَلَاثًا قَالَهُنَّ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِأَنْ تَكُونَ لِي وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ قَالَ لَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَا هُنَّ يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ؟ قَالَ لَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ حِينَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْيُ فَأَخَذَ عَلِيًّا وَابْنَيْهِ وَفَاطِمَةَ فَأَدْخَلَهُمْ تَحْتَ ثَوْبِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ «رَبِّ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي» وَلَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ حِينَ خَلَّفَهُ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ خَلَّفْتَنِي مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ وَالنِّسَاءِ قَالَ «أَلَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نُبُوَّةَ بَعْدِي» وَلَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَتَطَاوَلْنَا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ؟» قَالُوا هُوَ أَرْمَدُ فَقَالَ «ادْعُوهُ» فَدَعَوْهُ فَبَصَقَ فِي وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ أَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَفَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَلَا وَاللَّهِ مَا ذَكَرَهُ مُعَاوِيَةَ بِحَرْفٍ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man with whose leadership Allah will grant (the Muslim) victory." So the people kept on thinking the whole night as to who would be given the flag. The next morning the people went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and every one of them hoped that he would be given the flag. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Where is ʿAli bin Abi Talib?" The people replied, "He is suffering from eye trouble, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said, "Send for him and bring him to me." So when ʿAli came, the Prophet ﷺ spat in his eyes and invoked good on him, and be became alright as if he had no ailment. The Prophet ﷺ then gave him the flag. ʿAli said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Shall I fight them (i.e. enemy) till they become like us?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Proceed to them steadily till you approach near to them and then invite them to Islam and inform them of their duties towards Allah which Islam prescribes for them, for by Allah, if one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels." (Using translation from Bukhārī 3701)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ»؟ قَالُوا تَشْتَكِي عَيْنَاهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ» فَلَمَّا جَاءَ بَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ وَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟ قَالَ «انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ فِيهِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ»

قَالَ لَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ ثَلَاثًا قَالَهُنَّ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِأَنْ يَكُونَ قَالَ لِي وَاحِدَةً مِنْهُنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مَا هُنَّ يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ ؟ قَالَ لَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ حِينَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْيُ فَأَحْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى ابْنَتِهِ فَاطِمَةَ وَعَلَى ابْنَيْهِ فَأَدْخَلَهُمْ تَحْتَ ثَوْبِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلَاءِ أَهْلِي وَأَهْلُ بَيْتِي وَلَا أَسُبُّهُ حِينَ خَلَّفَهُ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُّ خَلَّفْتَنِي مَعَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَلَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نُبُوَّةَ بَعْدِي وَلَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ حِينَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدَا رَجُلًا يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ يُفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَتَطَاوَلَ لَهَا نَاسٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ فَقَالُوا هُوَ ذَا هُوَ قَالَ ادْعُوهُ فَدَعُوهُ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنِهِ ثُمَّ أَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَفَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَلَا وَاللَّهِ مَا ذَكَرَهُ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ بِحَرْفٍ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ بِهَذَا اللَّفْظِ فَلَا نَعْلَمُ رَوَاهُ إِلَّا بُكَيْرُ بْنُ مِسْمَارٍ عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ

I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Messenger of Allah ﷺ all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Messenger of Allah, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and conferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Messenger of Allah, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels. (Using translation from Muslim 2406)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَومَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَذْكُرُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطِي فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ؟» قَالُوا هُوَ هَهُنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرْمَدُ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا بِمَا شَاءَ اللهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ ثُمَّ أَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ وَقَالَ «امْضِ قُدُمًا» فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا قَالَ «عَلَى رِسْلِكَ انْفُذْ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللهِ فِيهِ فَلَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ»

I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Messenger of Allah ﷺ all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Messenger of Allah, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and conferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Messenger of Allah, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels. (Using translation from Muslim 2406)

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَذْكُرُونَ مَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ مَكَانَهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ شَيْءٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟ قَالَ «عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِهُدَاكَ رَجُلًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ»

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of Khaybar, "I will give the flag tomorrow to a man through whom Allah will grant victory." So the people the next day all hoped that he would give it to them. He asked, "Where is Ali?" They said, "He has sore eyes, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "Send for him." So he was brought and the Messenger of Allah applied his saliva in his eyes and prayed for him, and he was immediately cured. Then he handed him the flag and said, "Advance and do not turn back until you reach their people and invite them to accept Islam." So Ali advanced, then he turned back and said, "O Messenger of Allah, should we fight them until they say 'There is no god but Allah?'" The Messenger of Allah said, "Call them to say 'There is no god but Allah' as soon as you reach them, for an individual coming to Islam through your invitation is better for you than red camels."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَغَدَا النَّاسُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُونَ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ؟» قَالُوا هُوَ شَاكِي الْعَيْنِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «أَرْسِلُوا بِهِ» فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَسَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا فَبَرَأَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ «انْفُذْ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِالْقَوْمِ فَتَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَيَّ» فَنَفَذَ عَلِيٌّ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ قَالَ «عَلَى رِسْلِكَ إِذَا جِئْتَهُمْ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى قَوْلِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فَلَأَنْ يُسْلِمَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى يَدِكَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ»

I would certainly give this standard to a person at whose hand Allah would grant victory and who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him also. The people spent the night thinking as to whom it would be given. When it was morning the people hastened to Messenger of Allah ﷺ all of them hoping that that would be given to him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Where is 'Ali b. Abu Talib? They said: Messenger of Allah, his eyes are sore. He then sent for him and he was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ applied saliva to his eyes and invoked blessings and he was all right, as if he had no ailment at all, and conferred upon him the standard. 'Ali said: Messenger of Allah, I will fight them until they are like us. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Advance cautiously until you reach their open places, thereafter invite them to Islam and inform them what is obligatory for them from the rights of Allah, for, by Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels. (Using translation from Muslim 2406)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ» وَكَانَ النَّاسُ يَذْكُرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَهُ فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنِهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟ قَالَ «انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ بِكَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ»

On the day of Khaibar, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give this flag to a man through whose hands Allah will give us victory. He loves Allah and His Apostle, and he is loved by Allah and His Apostle." The people remained that night, wondering as to who would be given it. In the morning the people went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and everyone of them was hopeful to receive it (i.e. the flag). The Prophet said, "Where is ʿAli bin Abi Talib?" It was said, "He is suffering from eye trouble O Allah's Apostle." He said, "Send for him." ʿAli was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat in his eye and invoked good upon him. So ʿAli was cured as if he never had any trouble. Then the Prophet ﷺ gave him the flag. ʿAli said "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I will fight with them till they become like us." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Proceed and do not hurry. When you enter their territory, call them to embrace Islam and inform them of Allah's Rights which they should observe, for by Allah, even if a single man is led on the right path (of Islam) by Allah through you, then that will be better for you than the nice red camels. (Using translation from Bukhārī 4210)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ غَدَا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ «كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا» قَالَ أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالُوا هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ قَالَ «فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ» فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا قَالَ «انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ»

What prevents you from abusing Abu Turab (Hadrat 'Ali), whereupon be said: It is because of three things which I remember Messenger of Allah ﷺ having said about him that I would not abuse him and even if I find one of those three things for me, it would be more dear to me than the red camels. I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ say about 'Ali as he left him behind in one of his campaigns (that was Tabuk). 'Ali said to him: Messenger of Allah, you leave me behind along with women and children. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: Aren't you satisfied with being unto me what Aaron was unto Moses but with this exception that there is no prophethood after me. And I (also) heard him say on the Day of Khaibar: I would certainly give this standard to a person who loves Allah and his Messenger, and Allah and his Messenger love him too. He (the narrator) said: We had been anxiously waiting for it, when he (the Holy Prophet) said: Call 'Ali. He was called and his eyes were inflamed. He applied saliva to his eyes and handed over the standard to him, and Allah gave him victory. (The third occasion is this) when the (following) verse was revealed: "Let us summon our children and your children." Messenger of Allah ﷺ called 'Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain and said: O Allah, they are my family. (Using translation from Muslim 2404d)

أَمَا مَا ذَكَرْتُ ثَلَاثًا قَالَهُنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَنْ أَسُبَّهُ لَأَنْ تَكُونَ لِي وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لَهُ وَخَلَّفَهُ فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِيهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ «تُخَلِّفُنِي مَعَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ؟» فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَمَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نُبُوَّةَ بَعْدِي؟» وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ فِي يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ» فَتَطَاوَلْنَا لَهَا فَقَالَ «ادْعُوا لِي عَلِيًّا» فَأُتِيَ بِهِ أَرْمَدَ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَفَعَ الرَّايَةَ إِلَيْهِ وَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ زَادَ هِشَامٌ {إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ} [الأحزاب 33] دَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَلِيًّا وَفَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَيْنًا فَقَالَ «اللهُمَّ يَعْنِي هَؤُلَاءِ أَهْلِي»

On the day of Khaibar, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give this flag to a man through whose hands Allah will give us victory. He loves Allah and His Apostle, and he is loved by Allah and His Apostle." The people remained that night, wondering as to who would be given it. In the morning the people went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and everyone of them was hopeful to receive it (i.e. the flag). The Prophet said, "Where is ʿAli bin Abi Talib?" It was said, "He is suffering from eye trouble O Allah's Apostle." He said, "Send for him." ʿAli was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat in his eye and invoked good upon him. So ʿAli was cured as if he never had any trouble. Then the Prophet ﷺ gave him the flag. ʿAli said "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I will fight with them till they become like us." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Proceed and do not hurry. When you enter their territory, call them to embrace Islam and inform them of Allah's Rights which they should observe, for by Allah, even if a single man is led on the right path (of Islam) by Allah through you, then that will be better for you than the nice red camels. (Using translation from Bukhārī 4210)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ» فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَى فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ قَالَ فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟ قَالَ «انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللهِ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ»

[AI] Muawiyah said to Saad ibn Abi Waqas, "What prevented you from insulting Ali ibn Abi Talib?" Saad replied, "I do not insult him as long as I remember three things that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said. He said, 'It would be more beloved to me than the red camels if I were to take Ali, his sons, and Fatimah, and enter them under my cloak.' Then he said, 'These are my family and the people of my household.' And I do not insult him as long as I remember when he left him behind in a battle and said, 'Did you leave me with the children and the women?' He replied, 'Do you not want to be to me like Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophethood?' And I do not insult him as long as I remember the day of Khaybar when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'I will give this flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah will grant victory through him.' So, we kept asking, 'Where is Ali?' They said, 'He has sore eyes.' He was called and he came. He spat in his eyes, then he handed him the flag. Allah granted him victory, and by Allah, Muawiyah did not utter a single word of what he mentioned until he left the city."

قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ «§مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَسُبَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» قَالَ لَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ ثَلَاثًا قَالَهُنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَأَنْ تَكُونَ لِي قَالَ «وَاحِدَةٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ لَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ حِينَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْيُ فَأَخَذَ عَلِيًّا وَابْنَيْهِ وَفَاطِمَةَ فَأَدْخَلَهُمْ تَحْتَ ثَوْبِهِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «رَبِّ هَؤُلَاءِ أَهْلِي وَأَهْلُ بَيْتِي» وَلَا أَسُبُّهُ حِينَ خَلَّفَهُ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَالَ «خَلَّفْتَنِي مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ وَالنِّسَاءِ؟» قَالَ «أَوَ لَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نُبُوَّةَ» وَلَا أَسُبُّهُ مَا ذَكَرْتُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ حِينَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَتَطَاوَلْنَا فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ؟» فَقَالُوا هُوَ أَرْمَدُ فَقَالَ «ادْعُوهُ فَدَعَوْهُ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَفَتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاللهِ مَا ذَكَرَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ بِحَرْفٍ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ»

On the day of Khaibar, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give this flag to a man through whose hands Allah will give us victory. He loves Allah and His Apostle, and he is loved by Allah and His Apostle." The people remained that night, wondering as to who would be given it. In the morning the people went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and everyone of them was hopeful to receive it (i.e. the flag). The Prophet said, "Where is ʿAli bin Abi Talib?" It was said, "He is suffering from eye trouble O Allah's Apostle." He said, "Send for him." ʿAli was brought and Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat in his eye and invoked good upon him. So ʿAli was cured as if he never had any trouble. Then the Prophet ﷺ gave him the flag. ʿAli said "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I will fight with them till they become like us." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Proceed and do not hurry. When you enter their territory, call them to embrace Islam and inform them of Allah's Rights which they should observe, for by Allah, even if a single man is led on the right path (of Islam) by Allah through you, then that will be better for you than the nice red camels. (Using translation from Bukhārī 4210)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ» فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» فَقِيلَ هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَصَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ «أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟» قَالَ «انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللهِ فِيهِ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمُرُ النَّعَمِ»

That he heard the Prophet ﷺ on the day (of the battle) of Khaibar saying, "I will give the flag to a person at whose hands Allah will grant victory." So, the companions of the Prophet ﷺ got up, wishing eagerly to see to whom the flag will be given, and everyone of them wished to be given the flag. But the Prophet asked for ʿAli. Someone informed him that he was suffering from eye-trouble. So, he ordered them to bring ʿAli in front of him. Then the Prophet ﷺ spat in his eyes and his eyes were cured immediately as if he had never any eye-trouble. ʿAli said, "We will fight with them (i.e. infidels) till they become like us (i.e. Muslims)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Be patient, till you face them and invite them to Islam and inform them of what Allah has enjoined upon them. By Allah! If a single person embraces Islam at your hands (i.e. through you), that will be better for you than the red camels." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2942)

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ هُوَ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنِهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ مَكَانَهُ حَتَّى لَكَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ شَيْءٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا قَالَ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ انْفُذْ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ الرَّجُلَ الْوَاحِدَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ

"عَنْ عَامِرِ بن سَعْد قَالَ: قَالَ سَعْدٌ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لِعَلىٍّ ثَلَاثٌ لأَنْ يَكُونَ لِى وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ، نَزَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ الْوَحْىُ فَأَدْخَلَ عَلِيًّا وَفَاطِمَةَ وَابْنَيْهِمَا تَحْتَ ثَوْبِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: الَّلهُمَّ هَؤُلاءِ أَهْلِى وَأَهْل بَيْتِى، وَقَالَ لَهُ حِينَ خَلَّفَهُ فِى غَزَاةٍ غَزَاهَا فَقَالَ عَلِىٌّ: يَا رَسُول الله! خَلَّفْتَنِى مَعَ النِّساءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَلَا تَرْضى أَنْ تَكَونَ مِنِّى بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ موسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نُبَوَّةَ، وَقَوْلُهُ

يَوْمَ خَيْبَر: لأُعْطيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ، فَتَطَاوَلَ المُهَاجِرُونَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لِيَرَاهُم، فَقَالَ: أَيْنَ عَلِىٌّ؟ قَالُوا: هُوَ رَمِدٌ قَالَ: ادْعُوهُ فَدَعَوْه فَبَصَقَ فِى عَيْنَيْهِ فَفَتَحَ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ".