عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ قَالَ لَمَّا بَعَثَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ خَرَجَ مَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوصِيهِ وَمُعَاذٌ رَاكِبٌ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَمْشِي تَحْتَ رَاحِلَتِهِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ يَا مُعَاذُ إِنَّكَ عَسَى أَنْ لَا تَلْقَانِي بَعْدَ عَامِي هَذَا أَوْ لَعَلَّكَ أَنْ تَمُرَّ بِمَسْجِدِي هَذَا أَوْ قَبْرِي فَبَكَى مُعَاذٌ جَشَعًا لِفِرَاقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ فَأَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهِ نَحْوَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي الْمُتَّقُونَ مَنْ كَانُوا وَحَيْثُ كَانُوا
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him towards Yemen, he gave him some advices. Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was walking alongside his mount. After finishing his conversation, he said: "Mu'adh! It is possible that after this year you may not meet me again, and it may be that you pass by my mosque or my grave." Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) wept out of grief at the thought of separation from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his face towards Madinah Munawwarah and said: "The people closest to me among all people are those who possess the quality of taqwa (piety), whoever they may be and wherever they may be."