عَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ”إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُحِبُّ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي أَرْبَعَةً أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُحِبَّهُمْ“ قَالُوا مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ”إِنَّ عَلِيًّا مِنْهُمْ وَأَبُو ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيُّ وَسَلْمَانُ الْفَارِسِيُّ وَالْمِقْدَادُ بْنُ الْأَسْوَدِ الْكِنْدِيُّ“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Buraidah Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty loves four of my companions, and Allah Almighty has informed me that He loves them, and He has also commanded me that I should love them as well. The companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! Who are they? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Ali, Abu Dharr Ghifari, Salman Farsi, and Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi.