It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of the Battle of Khaybar: "I will give this flag to the person who loves Allah and His Messenger, and victory of this fort will be achieved at his hands." Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that before this, I never had a desire for leadership, but in the hope that perhaps the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would hand the flag to me, I began to raise my neck and look around. But when the next day came, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called Hazrat Ali (may Allah honor his face) and handed the flag to him and said, "Fight them and do not turn your attention elsewhere until victory is achieved." So he set out, and after going a little distance, he called out and asked, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), how long should I fight them?" He replied, "Until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. When they do so, they have protected their lives and property from me except for the right of this word, and their reckoning is with Allah."