Narrated Salamah bin Al-Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him): On the occasion of the Battle of Khaybar, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) did not come along with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He was suffering from pain in his eyes. Then he said, “Shall I not participate in Jihad with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?” So he set out and joined the Prophet. On the evening of that night, the morning of which Khaybar was conquered, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I will give the Islamic flag to a person, or (he said) tomorrow the Islamic flag will be in the hand of a person whom Allah and His Messenger love.” Or he said: “Who loves Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and Allah will grant victory at his hands.” Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) also came, although we had no hope of his coming (because he was suffering from eye inflammation). The people said, “Here is Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) also,” and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him the flag, and Allah granted victory at his hands.
Hadith Referenceاللؤلؤ والمرجان / كتاب فضائل الصحابة / 1558
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:«صحیح»
Hadith Takhrij«صحیح، أخرجه البخاري في: 56 كتاب الجهاد: 121 باب ما قيل في لواء النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ»