Hadith 15

Sahih Muslim

Book 33: The Book on Government

Chapter 3

The prohibition of seeking or desiring a position of authority

باب النَّهْىِ عَنْ طَلَبِ الإِمَارَةِ، وَالْحِرْصِ، عَلَيْهَا ‏‏

Sahih Muslim 1652c
حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنُ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ ‏.‏
"‏ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا ‏"
It has been reported on the authority of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Samura

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: 'Abd al-Rahman, do not ask for a position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left alone (without God's help to discharge the responsibilities attendant thereon), and it you are granted it without making any request for it, you will be helped (by God in the discharge of your duties).