Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of the battle of Khaybar that he would give the Islamic flag into the hand of such a person through whom Allah would grant victory. Now everyone was waiting to see who would receive the flag. When morning came, all the prominent people hoped that perhaps they would be given the flag, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) inquired, “Where is Ali?” It was submitted that he was suffering from an eye ailment. Eventually, at your (peace and blessings be upon him) command, he was called. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his blessed saliva to Ali’s eyes, and immediately he was cured, as if there had never been any pain. Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “We will fight them (the Jews) until they become like us (Muslims).” But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Wait, first go down into their field and invite them to Islam, and inform them of what is obligatory upon them. (Then if they do not accept, fight them.) By Allah! If even one person is guided through you, it is better for you than red camels.”
Hadith Referenceاللؤلؤ والمرجان / كتاب فضائل الصحابة / 1557
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:«صحیح»
Hadith Takhrij«صحیح، أخرجه البخاري في: 56 كتاب الجهاد: 102 باب دعاء النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إلى الإسلام والنبوة»