It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: "Never revile the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), for the standing of any one of them for a short while (for the sake of the religion or in the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)) is far superior in virtue to the worship and good deeds of a whole lifetime of any one of you."
The chain of this athar (report) is sahih (authentic). Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal narrated it in Fada'il al-Sahabah (15) and Ibn Abi Asim in al-Sunnah (1006), and all its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب المناقب / 4157
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده صحيح. » «أخرجه سنن ابن ماجه برقم: 162، وأخرجه مصنف ابن أبي شيبة برقم: 33082»