It is narrated from Sayyiduna Buraidah Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty loves four of my companions, and Allah Almighty has informed me that He loves them, and He has also commanded me that I should love them as well. The companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! Who are they? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Ali, Abu Dharr Ghifari, Salman Farsi, and Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), who says: I heard Sayyiduna Miqdad (may Allah be pleased with him) say something on one occasion that I wish I had been the one to say it, and in exchange for it, I would have given everything that could be considered equal to it. He came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was supplicating against the polytheists. Sayyiduna Miqdad (may Allah be pleased with him) came and said: O Messenger of Allah! We will not say as the Children of Israel said to Musa (peace be upon him): {اِذْھَبْ اَنْتَ وَرَبُکَ فْقَاتِلَا اِنّا ھَھُنَا قَاعِدُوْنَ} … "So you and your Lord go and fight; we are sitting right here." (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 24) Rather, we will fight on your right, your left, in front of you, and behind you (in your defense) from every direction. I saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was extremely pleased upon hearing this, and I saw his blessed face shining with happiness.