Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2923 — The virtue of those who believe

Abd al-Rahman bin Yazid (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: I was sitting in the gathering of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and the people there mentioned the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the excellence they had attained through their precedence in faith. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Indeed, the matter of the prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was perfectly evident and clear as daylight to those who saw him (peace and blessings be upon him) with their own eyes. But by the One besides whom there is no true god! No person's faith is more excellent than faith that is based on the unseen (iman bil-ghayb), that is, believing without seeing." Then he recited these verses as proof: "Alif Lam Mim. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for the God-fearing, who believe in the unseen, establish prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them, and who believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you, and are certain of the Hereafter. It is they who are upon guidance from their Lord, and it is they who are the successful." [Surah al-Baqarah: 1-5]
Imam Ahmad bin Mani' recorded it in his Musnad and its chain is sahih (authentic); this narration is also clear evidence of the importance and excellence of faith in the unseen.