Hadith 6089

Sahl b. Sa'd told that God's messenger said on the day of Khaibar, "I shall certainly give this standard tomorrow to a man who loves God and His messenger and is loved by God and His messenger, at whose hands God will give victory." In the morning the people came to God's messenger each hoping he would be given it, but he asked, "Where is `Ali b. Abu Talib?" On being informed that he was suffering from eye trouble he told them to send for him, and when he was brought God's messenger spat in his eyes and he recovered, so that it seemed as if nothing had been wrong with him. He then gave him the standard, and he said, "Messenger of God, I shall fight with them till they are like us." He then said, "Go gently till you come to their outskirts, then invite them to accept Islam and inform them of the demands due to God which it will involve for them. I swear by God it will be better for you that God should give guidance to one man through your agency than that you should acquire the red ones among the camels[*]." *This phrase indicates camels of the most valuable breed, and is also used figuratively of anything which is valuable. (Bukhari and Muslim.) The tradition of al-Bara' in which he said to `Ali, "You pertain to me and I pertain to you," has been mentioned in the chapter on young people attaining puberty.