Sayyiduna Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I intended to send Mu'adh bin Jabal, Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, Ubayy bin Ka'b and Abdullah bin Mas'ud to various peoples, just as Sayyiduna Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him) sent the Disciples." A man said: "Why do you not send Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), for they would convey the message better?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I cannot do without these two, for their position in the religion is that of hearing and sight."
Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator who is not named.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 14353