Arabic (Original)
Ḥadīth | Ṭabarānī (الطبراني) tabarani:5877 حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ الْعَلَّافُ الْمِصْرِيُّ ثنا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ قَالَ يَحْيَى حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ وَقَالَ سَعِيدٍ أَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ سَهْلًا يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ «لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ رَجُلًا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ» فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَذْكُرُونَ مَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ غَدَوْا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟» قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَأَ مَكَانَهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ شَيْءٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا؟ قَالَ «عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِهُدَاكَ رَجُلًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعَمِ»
English Translation
Sahl ibn Sa'd said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say on the Day of Khaybar: "I shall give the banner tomorrow to a man through whom Allah will grant victory." The people spent the night wondering who would be given it. When morning came, the people went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), each hoping to receive it. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Where is 'Ali ibn Abi Talib?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, he is suffering from an eye ailment." He sent for him and spat in his eyes and prayed for him, and he was healed immediately as if nothing had been wrong with him. He gave him the banner, and 'Ali said: "O Messenger of Allah, shall I fight them until they become like us?" He said: "Proceed slowly until you reach their territory, then invite them to Islam and inform them of what is required of them. By Allah, that Allah guides a single person through you is better for you than red camels."