Arabic (Original)
Ḥadīth | Ṭabarānī (الطبراني) tabarani:5950 حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ ثنا الصَّلْتُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ثنا فُضَيْلُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَغَدَا النَّاسُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُونَ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ «أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ؟» قَالُوا هُوَ شَاكِي الْعَيْنِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «أَرْسِلُوا بِهِ» فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَبَسَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا فَبَرَأَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ «انْفُذْ وَلَا تَلْتَفِتْ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِالْقَوْمِ فَتَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَيَّ» فَنَفَذَ عَلِيٌّ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ قَالَ «عَلَى رِسْلِكَ إِذَا جِئْتَهُمْ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى قَوْلِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فَلَأَنْ يُسْلِمَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى يَدِكَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ»
English Translation
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said on the Day of Khaybar: "I shall give the banner tomorrow to a man through whom Allah will grant victory." The people came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the morning, each hoping to be given the banner. He said: "Where is 'Ali?" They said: "He has an eye ailment, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Send for him." He was brought, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) spat in his eyes and prayed for him, and he was healed. Then he gave him the banner and said: "Go forth and do not turn back until you reach the people and invite them." 'Ali went, then turned back and said: "O Messenger of Allah, shall we fight them until they say 'La ilaha illallah'?" He said: "Proceed slowly. When you reach them, invite them to say 'La ilaha illallah,' for that one man accepts Islam through you is better for you than to possess red camels."