It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of Khaybar: "Now I will give this flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and through whose hands Allah will grant victory." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that before this incident, I never desired leadership, but on that day, in the hope of receiving the flag, I also raised my neck and stood tall, hoping that perhaps the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would grant me the flag. But when the next day came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and handed the flag to him, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep fighting them until you are granted victory." Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), after walking a little, said: "O Messenger of Allah! On what grounds shall I fight them?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fight them until they testify to the oneness of Allah and the messengership of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). When they do this, they will protect their blood and wealth from me, except for what is due by right, and their reckoning is with Allah the Exalted."