Sahih Muslim Book - 44, Hadith - 6265

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ ، عَنْ عُمَرَ ، يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَمْزَةَ ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ : إِنْ تَطْعَنُوا فِي إِمَارَتِهِ ، يُرِيدُ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ ، فَقَدْ طَعَنْتُمْ فِي إِمَارَةِ أَبِيهِ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ ، وَايْمُ اللهِ إِنْ كَانَ لَخَلِيقًا لَهَا ، وَايْمُ اللهِ إِنْ كَانَ لأَحَبَّ النَّاسِ إِلَيَّ ، وَايْمُ اللهِ إِنَّ هَذَا لَهَا لَخَلِيقٌ ، يُرِيدُ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ ، وَايْمُ اللهِ إِنْ كَانَ لأَحَبَّهُمْ إِلَيَّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ ، فَأُوصِيكُمْ بِهِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ صَالِحِيكُمْ.

It was narrated from Salim that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said when he was on the Minbar: 'You object to his command' – meaning Usamah bin Zaid - 'and you objected to the command of his father before him. But by Allah, he was fit to command and by Allah he was one of the dearest of people to me. By Allah this one' - meaning Usamah bin Zaid- 'is fit to command, and by Allah, he is one of the dearest of them to me after him. So treat him well, for he is one of your righteous.'"