Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah bin Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Pour over me seven waterskins of water brought from different wells, so that I may go out to the people and give them instructions." The narrator says: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, he had a band tied around his blessed head. He climbed the pulpit, praised and extolled Allah Almighty, and then said: "One of the servants of Allah Almighty was given the choice between the world and what is with Allah Almighty, and he chose what is with Allah Almighty." None but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) understood the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he began to weep. He submitted: We will sacrifice our fathers, our mothers and our sons for you. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Stay where you are. In my view, the most excellent of people in companionship and in kind treatment is the son of Abu Quhafah. Look at these doors that open into the mosque and close them all, except the particular door of Abu Bakr, for I have seen light upon it."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat, and in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir in abridged form, except that he added these words: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the martyrs of Uhud and prayed abundantly for mercy upon them." Its chain is hasan (good).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 14306
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ حسن۔
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (342/19) ، أخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 7013»