Salim reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said on the pulpit:You object to the command of Usima b. Zaid as you had objected before to the command of his father (Zaid). By Allah, he was most competent for it and, by Allah, he was dearest to me amongst people and, by Allah, the same is the case with Usama b. Zaid. He is most dear to me after him and I advise you to treat him well for he is pious amongst you.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَمْزَةَ - عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ " إِنْ تَطْعَنُوا فِي إِمَارَتِهِ - يُرِيدُ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ - فَقَدْ طَعَنْتُمْ فِي إِمَارَةِ أَبِيهِ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لَخَلِيقًا لَهَا . وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لأَحَبَّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ . وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا لَهَا لَخَلِيقٌ - يُرِيدُ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ - وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لأَحَبَّهُمْ إِلَىَّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأُوصِيكُمْ بِهِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ صَالِحِيكُمْ " .
Muslim
The Book of the Merits of the Companions • Hadith 95