It is narrated from Hasan Basri that a man said to Sayyiduna Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him): What is your opinion about the person whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) loved throughout his life—would he not be a righteous man? He replied: Why not. So the man said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) departed from this world, he had appointed you as his governor. Sayyiduna Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: He did appoint me as governor, but by Allah! I do not know whether he appointed me because of his love for me or to seek my help. However, I will tell you that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) departed from this world, he loved two men: one was Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and the other was Sayyiduna Ammar ibn Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him).