Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ perceived a tendency among his Companions to stand in the back rows, he said to them, "Come forward and be close to me and let those who come after you, follow your lead. If people continue to fall behind (i.e., in acquiring virtues), Allah puts them behind."

[Muslim].

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري، رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله ﷺ رأي في أصحابه تأخرًا، فقال لهم:
"تقدموا فَأتموا بي وليأتم بكم مَن بعدكم، لا يزال قوم يتأخرون حتى يؤخرهم الله" ((رواه مسلم)).