عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم خرج الى المقبرة فقال السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون وددت أنى قد رأيت إخواننا قالوا يا رسول الله ألسنا إخوانك قال بل انتم أصحابى و إخوانى الذين لم يأتوا بعد وأنا فرطهم على الحوض قالوا يا رسول الله كيف تعرف من يأتى بعدك من امّتك قال أرأيت لو كان لرجل خيل غرّ محجّلة فى خيل بهم دهم ألا يعرف خيله قالوا بلى قال فانهم يأتون يوم القيامة غرّا محجّلين من الوضوء و أنا فرطهم على الحوض (الترغيب والترهيب 1/208)
Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once entered the graveyard and recited the following Du’aa:
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيكُم دَارَ قَومٍ مُّؤمِنِينَ وَإنَّا إنْ شَاءَ اللهُ بِكُم لاَحِقُونَ
“O (inmates of) the resting abode of the believers, may peace descend upon you from the side of Allah Ta’ala, Insha Allah we will soon be joining you.”
Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then said: “I wish I had met our brothers.” The Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) enquired: “Are we not your brothers, O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)?” Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “You are my companions (you have a greater position than the rest of the ummah. You are my brothers and you are also blessed with my companionship). My brothers are those who have not yet come in the world (i.e. they will still be born and appear in the world after my demise).” The Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) further enquired: “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), how will you recognize those of your followers who will come after you?” Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “If a person owns black horses with white foreheads and hooves and they are mixed with horses that are completely black, will he not recognize his own horses from among them?” The Sahaabah (Radhiallahu Anhum) replied: “He will certainly recognize them, O Rasulullah (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam).” Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “They (my followers) will come on the day of Qiyaamah with their foreheads and limbs illuminated with special noor on account of them performing wudhu for salaah (and it is through this sign that I will recognize them from others) and I will precede them (in reaching the Hereafter) and I will serve them water at the haudh of Kauthar (when they will meet me on the day of Qiyaamah).”