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 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  

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.  

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  

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»  

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»  

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»  

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 رَسُولُ الله ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَر لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَة غَدَا رَجُلًا يُحبُّ الله وَرَسُولَهُ يَفْتَح الله -تَعَالَى- عَلَى يَدَيْهِ، قَالَ عُمَرُ: فما أَحْبَبْتُ الإِمَارَةَ قَطُّ إِلَّا يَوْمَئِذ، فتشرف (*) لَهَا رَجَاءَ أَنْ أُدْعَى لَهَا، فَدَعَا عَلِيًا فَبَعَثَهُ وَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ وَقَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَقَاتِل حَتَّى يَفْتَح الله -تَعَالَى- عَلَى يَدَيْكَ وَلَا تَلتَفِتْ، فَسَارَ عَلِىٌّ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ وَقَفَ وَلَمْ يَلتَفِتْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله عَلَى مَا أُقَاتِل النَّاسَ؟ قَالَ: قَاتِلهمُ حَتَّى يَشْهَدوا أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الله، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُول الله فَإذَا قَالُوا ذَلِكَ، مَنَعُوا مِنْكَ دِمَاءهُم وَأَمْوَالَهم إِلَّا بِحَقِّها، وحسابهمْ عَلَى الله ﷻ".