Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 680 ⓘ
Abu Sa’Id al-Khudri said; The Messenger of Allah saw a tendency among his companions to go to the back. He said to them; come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your lead people will continue to keep to the back till Allah would put them at the back.
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْخُزَاعِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْهَبِ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى فِي أَصْحَابِهِ تَأَخُّرًا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ " تَقَدَّمُوا فَائْتَمُّوا بِي وَلْيَأْتَمَّ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَلاَ يَزَالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ حَتَّى يُؤَخِّرَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " .
also referenced under: Hadith 680 (Hasan) & Book 2, Hadith 680 (USC-MSA)