Ikrimah said that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, I said to a man: Come, let us learn from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and ask them, for they are many. He said: By Allah, I am amazed at you, O Ibn Abbas! Do you think the people will need you, when there are among the people (such great figures) of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? So I left that and devoted myself to asking and seeking out the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Many times I would go to a man about a hadith which I had learned that he had heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and I would find him taking his midday nap. So I would spread my cloak at the door of his house and rest my head on it, the winds blowing dust onto my face, until he came out to me. When he saw me, he would say: O cousin of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! What is the matter with you? I would say: I have heard of a hadith that you narrate from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and I wanted to hear it from you. He would say: Why did you not send for me so that I could come to you? I would say: I had more right to come to you. And that same man, when the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had passed away and the people came to need me, would see me and say: You were more deserving than I.
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب العين / 10546