Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34269 — The virtues of Ali bin Abi Talib

Al-Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Sa'id bin al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) said: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the flag to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "I am giving the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and whom Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) love." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) put saliva in both his eyes, because he was suffering from an eye inflammation, and he supplicated for him. And Allah granted him victory at Khaybar.