Muhammad bin al-Munkadir said: I heard Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you who are the best of you, as distinct from the worst of you?" The Companions said: "Of course!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of you are those with the longest lives and the best deeds." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it. And it has a sahih supporting witness (shahid) on the condition of Imam Muslim:

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah! Who is the best of people?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one whose life is long and whose deeds are good." The man asked again: "Then who is the worst of people?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one whose life is long but whose deeds are bad."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah Almighty intends good for a servant, He employs him (for His religion)." It was said: "How does Allah employ him?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He grants him the ability to do righteous deeds before death." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it, while there is a supporting witness (shahid) hadith for it with the following sahih chain:

Sayyiduna Amr bin al-Hamiq (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, loves a servant, He makes him 'asalahu' (sweet like honey)." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! What is meant by making him sweet like honey?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He grants him the ability to do a righteous deed shortly before his death, until his neighbours" or he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "those who live around him, become pleased and happy with him."