Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Urwah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prepared an army to send towards Mu'tah and appointed Hazrat Usamah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) as their commander, even though Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) were also in that army. The narrator says: It was as if the people expressed displeasure at the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for appointing Usamah as the commander of the army. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to deliver a sermon and said: Surely, some of you have expressed displeasure to me over appointing Usamah as commander. And indeed, before appointing Usamah, you also expressed displeasure over his father being appointed as commander. By Allah! He was more deserving of leadership. And indeed, he was the most beloved to me among the people. And after him, his son is also the most beloved to me among the people. And indeed, I hope that he will be among your righteous ones. So treat him well.