Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, the person closest to me will be the one who sent the most blessings (salat) upon me in the world.”
(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says: This narration contains evidence that on the Day of Resurrection, the closest to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) will be the experts of hadith, because no other group from this Ummah sends more blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) than these people.)