Mas’oodi and other historians narrate, that in the former days of his illness (because of which he died) one day Mu’awiyah went to the bath-house. When he looked at his weak and feeble body, he started weeping, for he realized that his end was near and he recited the following couplet: "I see that time has hastened to break me, and has taken some of my part from me. The deflection of his length and breadth has made him sit down, after having stood for a lengthy period of time."
And when his death and the days of separation of the world drew near and his illness increased, while the chances of his recovery seemed less, he recited some couplets in remorse: "I wish I had not been a sovereign for a instant, nor would I have been blinded while being absorbed in worldly pleasures, (I wish) I would have been similar to the poor, who suffices upon the necessities until he joins the people of the grave."
Ibne Aseer Jazari says that during his illness Mu’awiyah said, "I am like that livestock whose time of harvesting has neared. My kingship and rulers hip over you has been for a long time, because of which I am sick of you and you are sick of me. I desire to be separated from you and you wish the same, but I am better than the one who will rule over you after me, as those who were before me were better than me. It is said that whoever likes to meet the Almighty, the Almighty too likes to meet him. O Allah! I like to meet you and I request you to like my meeting too and make it a means of prosperity for me." After some time the signs of death became apparent upon him and when he realized his certain death, he called his son Yazeed.
Mu’awiyah’s will to his son Yazeed
source : tebyan
