Rabee`ah ibn Ka`b Al-Aslami (a Companion) said:
“I was with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, one night, and I brought him water to perform ablution, and I would bring him whatever he needed. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to me: ‘Ask.’ So I said: ‘I ask for your company in Paradise.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Do you have anything else?’ I said: ‘That is all.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Then help me achieve this for you by praying and prostrating often.’”
In another narration from Ar-Rabee`ah he said:
“I used to serve the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and take care of his needs throughout the day, until he would pray the night prayer. After he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would pray, and enter his house, I would stay by his door, thinking that perhaps a need would arise for the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. I would continuously hear him repeat: ‘Subhaan Allah, Subhaan Allah, Subhaan Allah wa bi-Hamdihi [Glorified is Allah; Glorified is Allah; Glorified is Allah, and He is praised],’ until I got tired and went back, or I would become overcome with tiredness and sleep. One day, when he saw how dedicated I was to serving him, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Ask me, O Rabee`ah.’ I said: ‘Allow me to think about it, O Messenger of Allah, then I will let you know.’ I thought about it to myself, and realized that this worldly life will be cut off and will perish, and that I have enough sustenance to suffice me, so I said to myself that I will ask the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for my Hereafter, because he has a very high status with Allah.’ So I went to him, and he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to me: ‘What have you concluded, O Rabee`ah?’ I said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I ask you to intercede on my behalf before your Lord, so that He saves me from entering Hellfire.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Who ordered you to say that?’ I said: “No, by Allah Who has sent you with the truth, no one ordered me to say that. However, when you said: ‘Ask me for anything, and I will give it to you,’ and since you have a special place with Allah, I looked at my affairs, and realized that this worldly life is going to be cut off and will perish, and that I have enough sustenance reaching me in this worldly life, so I thought that I should ask the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for something for my Hereafter.’ At that, the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, remained silent for a long period, then said: ‘I will grant you your wish, however, help me achieve that for you praying and prostrating often.’”