It is narrated from Abd al-Rahman bin A'idh (may Allah have mercy on him) that whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent out a military detachment, he would say: "Win the hearts of the people, deal with them gently and patiently, and do not attack them until you have invited them (to Islam); for of all the households on the face of the earth, whether those living in houses built of clay or the nomads living in tents of hair, that you should bring them to me as Muslims is far dearer to me than that you should kill their men and bring me their women (as captives)." Imam al-Harith also narrated a similar hadith through his own chain, but he did not mention Abd al-Rahman bin A'idh in his chain.
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب الجهاد / 2019
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح، مرسل
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :الحديث رجال إسناده ثقات، لكنه مرسل. » «أخرجه المطالب العالية لابن حجر برقم: 2019 / 2»