Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 8794

It is narrated from Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman: I visited Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was ill and propped him up against my chest. Then I supplicated: O Allah, grant Abu Hurayrah recovery. He said: 'Allahumma la tarji'ha' "O Allah, do not return it (to me) (that is, accept my supplication and grant me death)." I said again: O Allah, grant Abu Hurayrah recovery. He said again: 'Allahumma la tarji'ha' "O Allah, do not turn it back." I said a third time: O Allah, grant Abu Hurayrah recovery. He said the same again: 'Allahumma la tarji'ha' "O Allah, do not return it." Then he said: O Abu Salamah, if you are able to die, then die. I said: O Abu Hurayrah, we love life. He said: By the One in whose Hand is the soul of Abu Hurayrah! A time will certainly come upon the scholars when death will be dearer to one of them than red gold, and one of you will come to the grave of his brother and say (because of the distressing conditions): Would that I were in his place.
This chain is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs, but they did not record it.