History of Islam Vol 2 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

Caliphate ofBanu Umayyah (First Phase) 39
Atnir ul- Muminin has taken a hasty step in this affair. He has not
thought over it deeply because Yazid is a youth who leads a life of
entertainment. People know very well that he is fond of touring and
hunting and so they would certainly cause hesitation in taking ba'it.
Obadiah bin K&b said to him, "You need not express your
disagreement to the Amir ul- Muminin's view. Simply send me to
Damascus and I shall see Yazid and make him see reason and that he
should reform himself so that there will not be any hitch in the way of
taking ba'it for him. I am sure he will accept this advice. When his
conditions undergo a pleasant change, the people will also riot hesitate
in taking ba'it, and the Amir ul-Muminin‘s wish will be fulfilled."
Zeyad appreciated the idea and immediately sent Obaid to Damascus.
Obaid made Yazid understand all the subtleties of the matter and
Yazid respected this advice, he reformed himself remarkably and
silenced the people on this point.
When the letter reached Marwan in Madinah, he assembled the
noblemen there and read to them this much, "the Amir ul-Muminin
has the intention of saving the Muslims from all possible riots and
disturbances by nominating someone to be caliph after him." All
appreciated the idea and expressed their willingness to support it. A
few days after Marwan again assembled the people and read to them,
"Another letter from Amir Muawiya «_* it has come from
Damascus. He has written that in view of the betterment of Muslims
he has nominated Yazid as the heir apparent." At this time Abdur
Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Abdullah bin Umar, Abdullah bin Zubair and
Husain bin Ali ^ it^expressed great resentment. They said, "This
selection has been made not for the welfare of the Muslims but for
their annihilation because by this way the Islamic Caliphate will
resemble the Roman and Persian empires in which the son succeeds
his father to the throne this selection is against the spirit of Islam."
As a parenthesis, here attention should be drawn to the fact when
Marwan bin Hakam proclaimed in Madinah Amir Muawiya's
intention. Imam Hasan -—* &i
^
had died a few months before. The
people generally knew that at the time of reconciliation with Imam
Hasan ii ^—-, Jt Amir Muawiya