Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Hour will not be established until a man from among my Companions is searched for just as a lost thing is searched for, and then he is not found." (The narrator is in doubt about one word here.)
Imam Ahmad and Imam al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, al-Harith al-A'war, and he is da'if (weak), and despite his weakness he has been declared trustworthy.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 16399
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه البزار فى المسند (2775 و 2772) اخرجه احمد فى المسند (720 و 675) ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 677»
Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A time will surely come upon the people when their army will set out and it will be asked: 'Is there anyone among you who was a Companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?' Then the people will seek help through that person, and they will be helped. Then a time will come when it will be said: 'Is there anyone who was a Companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?' It will be answered: 'No.' Then it will be asked: 'Is there anyone who kept company with his Companions?' Then it will be said: 'Who is there who saw someone who kept company with his Companions?' And if the people were to learn of such a person being beyond the sea, they would still go to him."
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 16400
In one narration the wording is: "Then people will remain who will recite the Qur'an, but they will not understand what it means."
Imam Abu Ya'la recorded it through two routes, and the narrators of both are the narrators of the Sahih.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 16401