On the day of Khaybar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give this banner to a man through whose hands Allah will grant victory. He loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him."The people spent the night discussing among themselves which of them would be given it. When morning came, they all went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, each one hoping to receive it.He asked, "Where is Ali bin Abu Talib?"They answered, "Messenger of Allah, he is suffering from a complaint in his eyes."He said, "Send for him."When Ali was brought, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat into his eyes and prayed for him, and he was healed as though he had never been in pain. Then he handed him the banner.Ali asked, "Messenger of Allah, shall I fight them until they become like us?"He replied, "Proceed calmly until you reach their territory, then call them to Islam and inform them of what they owe to Allah. By Allah, that Allah should guide a single man through you is better for you than possessing the finest red camels."
حدثنا قتيبة بن سعيد حدثنا يعقوب بن عبد الرحمن عن أبي حازم أخبرني
أن رسول الله ﷺ قال يوم خيبر لأعطين هذه الراية غدا رجلا يفتح الله على يديه يحب الله ورسوله ويحبه الله ورسوله قال فبات الناس يدوكون ليلتهم أيهم يعطاها فلما أصبح الناس غدوا على رسول الله ﷺ كلهم يرجو أن يعطاها فقال أين علي بن أبي طالب فقال هو يا رسول الله يشتكي عينيه قال فأرسلوا إليه فأتي به فبصق رسول الله ﷺ في عينيه ودعا له فبرأ حتى كأن لم يكن به وجع فأعطاه الراية فقال علي يا رسول الله أقاتلهم حتى يكونوا مثلنا فقال انفذ على رسلك حتى تنزل بساحتهم ثم ادعهم إلى الإسلام وأخبرهم بما يجب عليهم من حق الله فيه فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا واحدا خير لك من أن يكون لك حمر النعم