Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 4048 — The virtue of Amr bin al-As

It is narrated from Abu Nawfal al-Urayji that when the time of death drew near for Sayyiduna Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him), he showed severe agitation and distress and began to weep bitterly. Thereupon his son said to him: "Why are you so distressed, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to appoint you to various responsibilities as a governor and to keep you close to him?" He replied: "Indeed, he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do that, but I do not know whether this conduct of his (peace and blessings be upon him) was out of heartfelt love for me, or whether he (peace and blessings be upon him) did it merely to win my heart, that is, to reconcile me. However, I bear witness on oath concerning two persons that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) departed from this world, he (peace and blessings be upon him) loved them dearly: one is Ibn Sumayyah, that is, Sayyiduna Ammar, and the other is Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them both)." Then, when the throes of death grew severe upon him and the state of dying came over him, he joined both his hands and placed them on the part of his neck where a collar (of shackles) is put, and then he began to plead humbly: 'Allahumma amartana fa-tarakna, wa nahaytana fa-rakibna, fa-la yasa'una illa rahmatuk' (O Allah, You commanded us (to do good deeds) and we fell short (in carrying them out), and You forbade us (from evils) and we committed them; now nothing suffices for us except Your vast mercy). The narrator says: He kept repeating these words continuously on his tongue until his soul was taken.
Imam Ahmad bin Mani' recorded this hadith in his Musnad; its chain is strong and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).