Maghra' narrates: When Ibn Amir came to Syria, as many of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as Allah willed, along with other people, came to him; only Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) did not come to him. So he said: "Why is it that Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) has not come to me? I will certainly go to him and fulfil his right." Then he came to Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him), greeted him with salam and said: "Your companions came to me, but you did not come to me, so I preferred to come to you and fulfil your right." Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' said: "You have never been smaller in the sight of Allah Almighty, nor in my sight, than you are today, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us that when you (that is, the rulers) change, we too should change towards you."
This narration has been recorded by Imam al-Tabarani. Its chain contains one narrator, Layth bin Abi Sulaym, and he is a mudallis; the remaining narrators of this narration are thiqat (trustworthy).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الخلافة / 9160