It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salamah bin al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) with his banner to some of the fortresses of Khaybar. He fought and then came back, but victory was not achieved, although he had striven his utmost. Then the next day he (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). He too fought and then came back, but victory was not granted, although he too had made every effort. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I will certainly now give this banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger; Allah Almighty will grant victory at his hands." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) called for Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), put some of his blessed saliva in his eyes and said: "Take this banner and advance with it (towards the enemy) until Allah Almighty grants you victory."
Sayyiduna Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set out with the banner and, by Allah, he was moving at a brisk pace, and we were behind him following in his footsteps, until he planted his banner in a heap of stones beneath the fortress. At that moment a Jew looked down from the top of the fortress wall and asked: Who are you? He replied: "I am Ali bin Abi Talib." At this the Jew said to his companions: "You have been defeated, by that which was revealed to Musa (peace be upon him)!" or words to that effect. And Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) did not turn back until Allah Almighty granted victory (to the Muslims) at his hands.
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب السيرة والمغازي / 4295
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعيف جدًا
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده ضعيف جدًا. » «أخرجه صحيح البخاري برقم: 2477، وأخرجه صحيح مسلم برقم: 1802، وأخرجه المنتقى لابن الجارود برقم: 1153، وأخرجه صحيح ابن حبان برقم: 3196، وأخرجه المستدرك للحاكم برقم: 4362، وأخرجه سنن النسائي برقم: 3150 / 1، وأخرجه السنن الكبرى للنسائي برقم: 4343، وأخرجه سنن أبي داود برقم: 2538، وأخرجه جامع الترمذي برقم: 1592، وأخرجه سنن ابن ماجه برقم: 3195، وأخرجه السنن الكبرى للبيهقي برقم: 11669، وأخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 16766، وأخرجه مسند الطيالسي برقم: 1041، وأخرجه مصنف ابن أبي شيبة برقم: 32763، وأخرجه شرح معاني الآثار للطحاوي برقم: 6399، وأخرجه شرح مشكل الآثار للطحاوي برقم: 62، وأخرجه المعجم الكبير للطبراني برقم: 3270، وأخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 223»