Sayyiduna Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) were talking in whispers about a hadith. I said to the two of them: "Have you not kept the instruction of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had instructed the two of them regarding me. They both said: "We did not intend to talk in whispers about anything to your exclusion; we were only mentioning a hadith which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) related to us." Then, mentioning the hadith, they both said (that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had said): "This matter (that is, rule) will begin with prophethood and mercy; then there will be caliphate and mercy; then there will be a tenacious kingship; then there will be arrogance and tyranny, and there will be corruption in this Ummah, in that those people will declare silk, wine and illicit relations lawful; and there will be corruption in this Ummah, in that they will be helped in this and will be given provision continually until they come before Allah Almighty."
Abu Ya'la recorded it. Al-Bazzar recorded it from Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) alone, who narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The beginning of your religion was with prophethood and mercy," after which the narrator mentioned the hadith as before.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الخلافة / 8961