Hadith 2532 a - The Book of the Merits of the Companions - Sahih Muslim - صحيح مسلم - Collection of Actions, Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) - Kutub as-Sittah

44. The Book of the Merits of the Companions - كتاب فضائل الصحابة رضى الله تعالى عنهم

52) Chapter: The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them

Abu Sa'id Khudri reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

A time would come for the people when groups of people would set out for fighting in the cause of Allah and it would be said to them: Is there one amongst you who saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? And they would say: Yes, and they would be victorious. Then the people would set out for fighting in the cause of Allah and it would be said to them: Is there one amongst you who saw those (who have had the privilege of sitting in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? And they would say: Yes, and victory would be granted to them. Then a group of persons would set out for fighting in the cause of Allah and it would be said to them: Is there one amongst you who saw one of those who saw those who (had the privilege) of sitting in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? And they would say: Yes, and the Victory would be granted to them.

Reference: 2532 a
English reference: Book 31, Hadith 6148
In-book reference: Book 44, Hadith 296
Grade: Sahih
Read this hadith from Darussalam Collection

52) باب فَضْلِ الصَّحَابَةِ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ‏‏

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ الضَّبِّيُّ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعَ عَمْرٌو، جَابِرًا يُخْبِرُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏‏ ‏.‏ "‏ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ ‏.‏ نَعَمْ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ رَأَى مَنْ صَحِبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ هَلْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ رَأَى مَنْ صَحِبَ مَنْ صَحِبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ‏"