Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 9009

Muhammad bin Sirin said: When Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) took the pledge of allegiance for Yazid, he then came to perform Hajj and passed through Madinah. He addressed the people and said: "We have taken the pledge of allegiance for Yazid, so you too pledge allegiance to him." Then Sayyiduna Imam Husayn bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: "By Allah! I have more right to it (the government) than he (that is, Yazid) does, for my father is better than his father, my grandfather is better than his grandfather, my mother is better than his mother, and I am better than him." Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "As for what you mentioned, that your grandfather is better than his grandfather, you have spoken rightly: the Messenger of Allah is better than Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him). As for what you mentioned, that your mother is better than his mother, you have spoken the truth in this too: Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, is better than the daughter of Majdal (that is, Yazid's mother). As for what you mentioned, that your father is better than his father, your father contended with his father, and Allah Almighty decided in favour of his father against your father. As for what you mentioned, that you are better than him, he is more sensible and more intelligent than you. It would not please me to receive a thousand people like you in exchange for him."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains al-Haytham bin al-Rabi'. Abu Hatim said: He is a shaykh who is not well known. The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).