Dawud bin Abi Salih narrates: One day Marwan came and found a man who had placed his face on the blessed grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Marwan said: "Do you know what you are doing?" The man turned towards him, and it was Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: "Yes! I have come to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); I have not come to a stone. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Do not weep over the religion when those worthy of it are in charge of it; but weep over the religion when someone unworthy becomes its guardian.'"
Ahmad recorded it, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains a narrator, Kathir bin Zayd, whom Ahmad and others declared thiqah (trustworthy), while al-Nasa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) and others declared him da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الخلافة / 9252
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ حسن
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (3999) اخرجه احمد فى المسند (422/5) ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 23074»