Zirr bin Hubaysh (may Allah have mercy on him) says: I came to Sayyiduna Safwan bin Assal (may Allah be pleased with him), and he asked me: "What has brought you?" I said: "I am seeking knowledge." He said: "Whoever leaves his house in search of knowledge, the angels spread their wings for him out of pleasure with what he does." I said to him: "You were one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but a question has arisen in my heart about wiping over the leather socks." He said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to order us, when we were on a journey or travelling, not to take off our leather socks for three days and nights except for major ritual impurity (janabah); but for sleep, defecation or urination (we should not take them off)."
And he told me that a Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and called out to him (peace and blessings be upon him) in a loud voice from the rear of the people: "O Muhammad!" So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) answered him in the same manner: "Yes, listen." He asked: "What do you say about a man who loves a people but has not yet joined them?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A person is with the one he loves."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب الصاد / 7335