Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Haisam narrates that Hazrat Asim saw some people walking behind a man. He said: Surely, this is a trial for the person who is being followed, and it is humiliation for those who are following.

Hazrat Habib bin Abi Thabit narrates that some people followed behind Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud and began to walk after him. He asked: "Do you people have any work?" They replied: "No." He said: "Go back, for following behind someone is a humiliation for the one who follows and a trial for the one who is followed."

Hazrat Saleem bin Hanzalah narrates that we went to Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka'b so that we could converse with him. When he stood up, we also stood up and began to walk with him. Then Hazrat Umar met him and raised a whip over him. He (Ubayy) said: O Commander of the Faithful! Be aware of what you are doing! He (Umar) said: Indeed, what you see here is a trial for the one who is followed and a humiliation for the follower.

Hazrat Asim says that Hazrat Ibn Sirin would not let anyone accompany him.

Hazrat Asim narrates that when more than four people would sit with Hazrat Abu Al-Ala, he would stand up.