Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 5787

Aflah, the freed slave of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), narrates that he passed by Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), and the two of them were seated at the Mosque of the Funerals. One of them said to the other: "Do you remember the hadith which the Messenger of Allah narrated to us in this mosque in which we are now present?" The other replied: "Yes! It was about Madinah. I heard him say: 'Soon a time will come upon the people in which various parts of the earth will be conquered for them, and people will go out to those regions. There they will find prosperity, comfort and food and drink. Then, on their way to Hajj or Umrah, they will pass by their brothers and say: "Why do you stay in this hardship of life and severe hunger?"' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'So some will leave and some will stay' - he said this several times - (and then he said:) 'Madinah is better for them. Whoever remains here, patiently bearing its hardship and severity until he dies, I will be a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection (the narrator is in doubt; perhaps the words are:) an intercessor for him.'"
Imam al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).