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».

That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of Khaybar: "I will surely give this banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger; Allah will grant victory through his hands." Umar b. al-Khattab said: "I never desired leadership except on that day." He said: So I pressed forward for it, hoping that I would be called for it.

He said: Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Ali b. Abu Talib and gave it to him, and said: "Go, and do not turn around until Allah grants you victory." He said: So Ali went a little way, then stopped and did not turn around, and shouted: "O Messenger of Allah, on what basis should I fight the people?" He said: "Fight them until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they do that, then they have protected from you their blood and their wealth except by its due right, and their reckoning is with Allah."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ: «لأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلاً يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ». قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ: مَا أَحْبَبْتُ الإِمَارَةَ إِلاَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ. قَالَ: فَتَسَاوَرْتُ لَهَا رَجَاءَ أَنْ أُدْعَى لَهَا.

قَالَ: فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهَا، وَقَالَ: «امْشِ وَلاَ تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ». قَالَ: فَسَارَ عَلِيٌّ شَيْئًا، ثُمَّ وَقَفَ وَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ، فَصَرَخَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، عَلَى مَاذَا أُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ: «قَاتِلْهُمْ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ مَنَعُوا مِنْكَ دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا، وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ».

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

"We were with the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and a man came and whispered to him. He said: 'Kill him.' Then he said: 'Does he bear witness to La ilaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship except Allah)?' He said: 'Yes, but he is only saying it to protect himself.' The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not kill him, for I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah, and if they say it, their blood and their wealth are safe from me, except for a right that is due, and their reckoning will be with Allah.'"

كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَسَارَّهُ فَقَالَ اقْتُلُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَلَكِنَّمَا يَقُولُهَا تَعَوُّذًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَقْتُلُوهُ فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of Khaybar: "I will give the flag (of leadership) to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah will grant him victory." Umar then said, "I have never desired leadership before that day, but I eagerly sought it with the hope that it would be given to me. When the next day came, he called Ali and handed him the flag, saying, 'Fight and do not turn back until Allah grants you victory.' Ali went forward and soon called out, 'O Messenger of Allah, why am I fighting?' The Prophet replied, 'Fight until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Once they do that, they will be protected from me in regard to their lives and wealth, except for their due rights, and their reckoning will be with Allah.'

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ لَأَدْفَعَنَّ الرَّايَةَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا أَحْبَبْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ قَبْلَ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَتَطَاوَلْتُ لَهَا وَاسْتَشْرَفْتُ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهَا إِلَيَّ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ دَعَا عَلِيًّا فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ قَاتِلْ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى يُفْتَحَ عَلَيْكَ فَسَارَ قَرِيبًا ثُمَّ نَادَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ عَلَامَ أُقَاتِلُ؟ قَالَ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ مَنَعُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللهِ ﷻ

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

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»

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of Khaybar, "Today, I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah will grant victory to him." Umar said, "I never desired leadership except on that day, so I felt a sense of superiority." The Prophet ﷺ told Ali, "Arise," and gave him the banner, then said to him, "Go and do not look back until Allah grants you victory." Ali walked for a while and then stood without looking back at the army. He asked himself, "Why am I fighting these people?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Fight them until they bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. Once they do, their lives and wealth will be protected, except by the right due to them, and their reckoning will be with Allah."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأَدْفَعَنَّ الْيَوْمَ اللِّوَاءَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ» قَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا أَحْبَبْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ إِلَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ فَتَطَاوَلْتُ لَهَا فَقَالَ لِعَلِيٍّ «قُمْ» فَدَفَعَ اللِّوَاءَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ «اذْهَبْ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ» فَمَشَى هُنَيْهَةً ثُمَّ قَامَ وَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ لِلْعَزْمَةِ فَقَالَ عَلَى مَا أُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «قَاتِلْهُمْ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا فَقَدْ عَصَمُوا دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ»

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلا يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ يفتح الله على يديه قال عمر فما أحببت الإمارة إلا يومئذ فدعا عليا فبعثه فقال اذهب فقاتل حتى يفتح الله على يديك ولا تلتفت فمشى ساعة ثم وقف فلم يلتفت فقال يا رسول الله علام أقاتل؟ قال قاتلهم حتى يقولوا لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدا رَسُولُ الله فإذا فعلوا ذلك منعوا منك دماءهم وأموالهم إلا بحقها وحسابهم على الله

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»

I shall certainly give this standard in the hand of one who loves Allah and his Messenger and Allah will grant victory at his hand. Umar b. Khattab said: Never did I cherish for leadership but on that day. I came before him with the hope that I may be called for this, but Messenger of Allah ﷺ called 'Ali b. Abu Talib and he conferred (this honour) upon him and said: Proceed on and do not look about until Allah grants you victory, and 'Ali went a bit and then halted and did not look about and then said in a loud voice: Messenger of Allah, on what issue should I fight with the people? Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: Fight with them until they bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger, and when they do that then their blood and their riches are inviolable from your hands but what is justified by law and their reckoning is with Allah. (Using translation from Muslim 2405)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ» قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ مَا أَحْبَبْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ إِلَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهَا وَقَالَ «امْشِ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ» فَسَارَ عَلِيٌّ ثُمَّ تَوَقَّفَ يَعْنِي فَصَرَخَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَامَ أُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ «قَاتِلْهُمْ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ مَنَعُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللهِ»

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "I will give the banner tomorrow to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and through whom Allah will grant victory." Umar said, "I have never desired leadership except on this day." Then, the Prophet called Ali and sent him, saying, "Go and fight until Allah grants you victory, and do not turn back." Ali said, "So he went as Allah willed, and he stopped and did not turn back." Then he said, "Why should I fight the people?" Ali said, "Fight them until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Once they do that, they will have withheld their lives and wealth except for what is rightfully theirs, and their account will be with Allah."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ عَلَيْهِ» قَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا أَحْبَبْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ قَطُّ إِلَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ قَالَ فَاشْرَأَبَّ لَهَا فَدَعَا عَلِيًّا فَبَعَثَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ «اذْهَبْ فَقَاتِلْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ» قَالَ «فَمَشَى مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ وَقَفَ فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ» فَقَالَ «عَلَامَ أُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ؟» قَالَ «قَاتِلْهُمْ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ مَنَعُوا دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللهِ»

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of the Battle of Khaybar, "I will give the flag to a man whom Allah and His Messenger love, and Allah will grant him victory." 'Umar said, "I have never desired leadership before this day." Then he handed it to 'Ali and said, "Fight and do not turn back." 'Umar went a short distance and said, "O Messenger of Allah, why should I fight the people?" He said, "So that they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they do so, then their blood and wealth are protected from me except by right, and their reckoning is with Allah."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأَدْفَعَنَّ الرَّايَةَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَيَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ» قَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا أَحْبَبْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ قَطُّ قَبْلَ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ «قَاتِلْ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ» فَسَارَ قَرِيبًا فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ عَلَامَ أُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ «عَلَى أَنْ يَشْهَدُوا أَنَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَقَدْ عَصَمُوا دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ مِنِّي إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللهِ»

I shall certainly give this standard in the hand of one who loves Allah and his Messenger and Allah will grant victory at his hand. Umar b. Khattab said: Never did I cherish for leadership but on that day. I came before him with the hope that I may be called for this, but Messenger of Allah ﷺ called 'Ali b. Abu Talib and he conferred (this honour) upon him and said: Proceed on and do not look about until Allah grants you victory, and 'Ali went a bit and then halted and did not look about and then said in a loud voice: Messenger of Allah, on what issue should I fight with the people? Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: Fight with them until they bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger, and when they do that then their blood and their riches are inviolable from your hands but what is justified by law and their reckoning is with Allah. (Using translation from Muslim 2405)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ» قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ مَا أَحْبَبْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ إِلَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ وَقَالَ «امْشِ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ» فَسَارَ عَلِيٌّ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ وَقَفَ وَذَكَرَ قُتَيْبَةُ كَلِمَةً مَعْنَاهَا فَصَرَخَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ عَلَى مَاذَا أُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ «قَاتِلْهُمْ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ عَصَمُوا مِنْكَ دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللهِ»

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 أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ عُمَرُ: إِنَّ النَّبِىَّ ﷺ قَالَ: (لأَدْفَعَنَّ) (اللِّواءَ) إِلَى رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّ اللَّه وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَحُ اللَّه بِهِ، قَالَ عُمَرُ: مَا تَمنَّيْنَا الإِمْرَةَ (إلَّا) يَوْمَئِذٍ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الَغَدُ تَطَاوَلْتُ لَهَا، فَقَالَ (يَا) عَلِىُّ: قُمْ؛ اذْهَبْ فَقَاتِلْ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى يِفَتْحَ اللَّه عَلَيْكَ، فَلَمَّا قَفَى كَرِهَ أَنْ يَلْتَفِتَ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّه عَلامَ أقَاتِلُهُمْ؟ (قَالَ) حَتَّى يَقُولُوا: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّه، فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا حَرُمَتْ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَأمْوالُهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا".