Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 11747

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) reports this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "I saw in a dream as if a cluster of dates was brought to me. I put a date in my mouth and found in it a stone that hurt me, so I spat it out. Then I took another date and put it in my mouth, and I found a stone in it too, and I spat that out too. Then I took another date, found a stone in it too, and spat that out too." Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) submitted: Allow me to give its interpretation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Give it. He submitted: It refers to your army which you have sent out; they will remain safe and take spoils; then they will meet a man who will appeal to them by the protection you have granted, and they will leave him; then they will meet a man who will appeal to them by the protection you have granted, and they will leave him; then they will meet a man who will appeal to them by the protection you have granted, and they will leave him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The angel (or the King, that is, Allah Almighty) said the same.
Ahmad recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Mujalid bin Sa'id, who is thiqah (trustworthy), and criticism has been made of him.