Sayyiduna Salman al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever stands guard in the path of Allah for a day and a night receives the reward of a month of fasting and standing (in prayer). And if someone dies while standing guard, this reward of his continues, his provision continues to be granted, and he is kept safe from trials."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب السير / 17885
Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa'd al-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Standing guard for one day for Allah is better than the whole world; and setting out once in the path of Allah, in the morning or in the evening, is also better than the world and all that is on it; and a place in Paradise the size of a whip, if it is someone's, is also better than the whole world."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب السير / 17887
Abu Salih, the freed slave of Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), says: I heard Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) saying on the pulpit: I have kept from you a hadith that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); I kept it hidden out of fear that you would all leave me and go away. Then it occurred to me to narrate it, so that each person may choose what seems good to him. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "One day of standing guard in the path of Allah is better than a thousand days of guarding in any other place."
Imam al-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it hasan sahih.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب السير / 17888