Abu Ishaq reported that he heard Abu'l-Ahwas say:I was along with Abu Musa and Abu Mas'ud as Ibn Mas'ud died and one of them said to the other: Do you find one like him besides him? Thereupon he said: Do you say this (no one can be his rival)? He was admitted (to the company of the Holy Prophet) whereas we were detained and he had been present in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) whereas we had been absent.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ، بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الأَحْوَصِ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ أَبَا مُوسَى وَأَبَا مَسْعُودٍ حِينَ مَاتَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ أَتُرَاهُ تَرَكَ بَعْدَهُ مِثْلَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ إِنْ كَانَ لَيُؤْذَنُ لَهُ إِذَا حُجِبْنَا وَيَشْهَدُ إِذَا غِبْنَا .
Muslim
The Book of the Merits of the Companions • Hadith 159