It is narrated from Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Hatib, or al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) was mentioned, and he said: "He has always been very eager for leadership and authority." I asked: How so? He said: "A thief was brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that he be killed. It was said that he had stolen. At that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Cut off his hand.' Then that man was brought to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) (during his caliphate); he had stolen again, although his hands and feet had (already) been cut off. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'I find nothing right for you except the judgement that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed concerning you on the day he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered you to be killed, for he knew your case better.' So he ordered some young men from among the sons of the Muhajirun to kill him, and I was among them. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'Make me your leader.' So we made him our leader, then we took the man to al-Baqi' and killed him."
Hadith Referenceمسند أبي يعلى الموصلي / مسند أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه / 28
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث مسند ابی یعلی محققاً تنسیق حسين سليم أسد - مکتبہ شاملہ :قال حسين سليم أسد: إسناده صحيح . » «قال سعيد بن محمد السناري: صحيح» «أخرجه ابن أبى عاصم في "الآحاد والمثانى" [2/ رقم 785]، و، مسند ابویعلیٰ ترقیم الاثری: 28»