The third view is that he was one of the Muslim kings, with both good deeds and bad. He was not born until the caliphate of ‘Uthmān, and he was not an unbeliever. Nevertheless, it was because of him that al-Husayn was killed and the people of al-Harra suffered what they suffered. He was neither a Companion nor one of Allah’s righteous friends. This is the view generally held by people of sound judgment and knowledge who adhere to the Sunnah and the community.

They then divided into (three groups: one cursed him, another loved him, and a third neither reviled nor loved him. This last position is explicitly reported from Imam Ahmad and is followed by the moderate among his followers and other Muslims.

Sālih ibn Ahmad said:
“I said to my father, ‘Some people say that they love Yazīd.’ He replied, ‘My son, could anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day love Yazīd?’
“I asked, ‘Father, why, then, do you not curse him?’
“He replied, ‘My son, when have you ever seen your father curse anyone?’”

Muhannā said:
“I asked Ahmad about Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān. He replied, ‘He is the one who did what he did to Medina.’
“I asked, ‘What did he do?’
“He replied, ‘He killed some of the Companions of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and did other things.’
“I asked, ‘What else did he do?’
“He replied, ‘He plundered it.’
“I asked, ‘Should hadith be transmitted on his authority?’
“He replied, ‘No hadith should be transmitted on his authority.’”

This is also related by Judge Abū Ya‘lā and others.

It has reached me that, when Abū Muhammad al-Maqdisī was asked about Yazīd, he said, “He is neither to be reviled nor loved.” It has also reached me that our grandfather, Abū ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Taymiyya, was asked about Yazīd and replied, “Neither detract nor add.” This is the fairest and best of the views concerning him and others like him.