The Holy Prophet's (sa) Affection for Him
It is narrated by Hazrat Hassan (ra) that Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas said, “I hope that Allah will not cast an individual, whom the Messenger (sa) of Allah loved till the day of his demise, into hell.” The people said, “We observed that the Holy Prophet (sa) used to love you and also appointed you as a governor.” Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas replied, “Allah knows best, whether the Holy Prophet (sa) used to love me or said it to grant comfort to my heart. However, there was one individual whom we saw being loved by him.” People asked, “Who was that individual?” Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas said, “Hazrat Ammar bin Yassir (ra) was that individual to whom the Holy Prophet (sa) always showed affection.” Upon hearing this, the people said, “Was it not you, who killed him during the Battle of Siffin?” Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas was supporting Amir Muawiyah during that battle. Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas replied, “By God! We were the ones, who killed him.”
It is mentioned in another narration that Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas stated, “I am a witness regarding two people whom the Messenger (sa) of Allah loved till the day of their demise. They were Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud and Hazrat Ammar bin Yassir (ra).”
(At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 199, Ammar bin Yassir, Dar Ihya At-turath Al-Arabi, 1990, Beirut)
It is related by Hazrat Anas (ra) that the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Paradise yearns for Hazrat Ali (ra), Hazrat Ammar (ra), Hazrat Salman (ra) and Hazrat Bilal (ra).”
(Al-Isti‘ab, Vol. 3, p. 1138, Yassir bin Ammar, Darul Jaleel, Beirut, 1992)
Hazrat Huzaifah (ra) narrates, “We were sitting alongside the Holy Prophet (sa) when he stated, ‘I am unaware of how long I will remain amongst you. Thus, you should follow these people when I am gone.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) was pointing, at the time, towards Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra), and said, ‘Adopt the way of Ammar (ra) and attest to whatever Ibn-e-Masud (ra) says to you.’”
(Sunan Al-Tirmadhi, Abwaab-ul-Munaaqib, Baab Munaaqib, Ammar bin Yassir, Hadith 3799)