Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 4453 — Mu'awiyah appointing his son Yazid

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Sirin that when Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) intended to appoint Yazid as his successor, he sent a message to the governor of Madinah to send to him as a delegation whomever he wished. The narrator said: So Sayyiduna Amr bin Hazm al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) came to him as a delegate and sought permission to enter. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah's (may Allah be pleased with him) doorkeeper went in and said: "This is Amr, who has come and seeks permission." He asked: "Why have these people come to me?" The doorkeeper said: "O Commander of the Believers! They seek your gifts and generosity." Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If they are sincere, let them write to me what they want; I will give them what they ask for, but I will not meet them." So the doorkeeper went out to him and said: "What is your need? Write whatever you wish." He said (in astonishment): "Subhan Allah! Shall I come to the door of the Commander of the Believers and then be kept away from him? I want to meet him and speak to him." Then Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the doorkeeper: "Give him an appointment for such-and-such a day, that when he has prayed the morning prayer he should come." The narrator said: When Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) had prayed the morning prayer, he ordered his throne, and it was placed in the hall. Then the people were removed from there, and there was nothing with him except a chair placed for Sayyiduna Amr (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Sayyiduna Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) came and sought permission, and he was granted permission. He gave the greeting of salam and sat on the chair. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him: "What is your need?" The narrator said: He praised and extolled Allah Almighty and then said: "By my life! Yazid bin Mu'awiyah is of high lineage among Quraysh; he is free of need for wealth, but in need of every kind of goodness. And indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Whenever Allah Almighty makes any servant the guardian of a flock (people), He will certainly ask him about it on the Day of Resurrection: how did he treat (his people)?' And, O Mu'awiyah, I remind you to fear Allah regarding the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): whom are you appointing as your successor over them?" The narrator said: (On hearing these words,) although it was a cold morning, Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was overcome by such distress and breathlessness that he was drenched in sweat, and for a long while he kept wiping the sweat from his face. Then, when he had composed himself, he praised and extolled Allah and said: "Amma ba'd (to proceed): You are indeed a sincere and well-wishing man; you have said, according to your understanding, what you felt should be said. The fact is that now only my son and their (the other Companions') sons remain, and my son is more entitled (to the leadership) than their sons. Now tell me, what is your need?" He replied: "I have no (personal) need." He said: "Then you may leave." Then his brother said to him: "Did we come all this long way from Madinah, wearing out our riding animals, only for these few words?" He replied: "I came only for these words (of truth)." So Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered gifts for all of them, and fixed for Sayyiduna Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) twice as much as the others.
The chain of this narration of Musnad Abi Ya'la is hasan (good). This narration is an excellent reflection of an important turning point in Islamic history and of the Companions' courage in speaking out and giving sincere advice.