Musnad Ahmad 1012:105

Al-Hakam ibn Nafi’ narrated to us, Isma’il ibn ‘Ayyash narrated to us, from Rashid ibn Dawud al-San’ani, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hassan, from Rawh ibn Zinba’, from ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit, who said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was missing from his companions one night. Whenever they would encamp, they would place him in their midst, so they became alarmed and thought that Allah had chosen other companions for him besides them. Then, suddenly, they saw the figure of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and they shouted "Allahu Akbar" when they saw him and said: "O Messenger of Allah, we feared that Allah had chosen companions for you other than us." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "No, rather, you are my companions in this world and the Hereafter. Indeed, Allah awakened me and said: 'O Muhammad, I have not sent a prophet nor a messenger except that he asked Me for a request which I granted him, so ask, O Muhammad, and you shall be given.' I said: 'My request is intercession for my nation on the Day of Resurrection.'" Abu Bakr said: "O Messenger of Allah, and what is the intercession?" He said: "I will say: 'O Lord, my intercession which I have stored up with You.' The Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, will say: 'Yes.' Then my Lord will bring out the remainder of my nation from the Fire and cast them into Paradise."