—that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, during the campaign of Khaybar, sent for ʿAlī while his eyes were inflamed and said, “I shall certainly give the banner to a man whom Allah and His Messenger love, and who loves Allah and His Messenger; through him Allah will grant victory.” He then spat into ʿAlī’s eyes, and they were cured as though he had never felt any pain at all, after which he handed him the banner.

ʿAlī said, “Messenger of Allah, shall I fight them until they become like us?” He replied, “Proceed gently until you halt in their courtyard; then invite them to Islam and inform them of the duty they owe to Allah Most High in it. For, by Allah, if Allah guides a single man through you, that is better for you than red camels.”

And ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUmar ibn Qatādah relates—on the authority of his father, Qatādah ibn al-Nuʿmān—that