It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Those before you were destroyed only because they venerated their kings (in such a way) that they performed (the rituals of) standing and sitting (before them)."
"No one narrated this hadith from Yahya bin Abi Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) except al-Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him), and no one narrated it from al-Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him) except Suwayd (may Allah have mercy on him)."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الأوسط / باب الميم / 6680
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعيف جدًّا، فيه الحسن بن قتيبة متروك
Hadith Takhrij«قال الهيثمي: وفيه الحسن بن قتيبة وهو متروك «مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد، ج 8، ص 40»»