Silsilah as-Sahihah 2181 — Invitation to Islam before fighting

It is narrated from Yahya bin Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent our master Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he sent another man after him and said to him: "Keep following him and remain behind him (rather), pursue him, catch up with them and say that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is saying: 'Wait, until I reach.' They waited until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came and said: 'Do not fight any people until you have conveyed (the message of) Islam to them.'"