باب النهى عن سؤال الإمارة واختيار ترك الولايات إذا لم يتعين عليه أو تدع حاجة اليه
After the duties owed to leaders, the focus shifts to the heart of the would-be leader himself, and a striking warning emerges: do not chase power. The Arabic for command, imarah, becomes here a trust, amanah, something weighty that will be asked about rather than a prize to be won.
Notice the recurring pairing in these hadith of help versus abandonment, and honour versus regret. Authority sought eagerly tends to leave a person stranded with it, while authority placed on someone without grasping comes with divine support. The chapter does not condemn service; it warns against craving it, since on the Day of Resurrection it becomes disgrace and remorse for all but the one who shoulders it justly and discharges it fully.
Hadith 673
'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى سعيد عبد الرحمن بن سمرة رضي الله عنه ، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، "يا عبد الرحمن بن سمرة: لا تسأل الإمارة، فإنك إن أعطيتها عن غير مسألة أعنت عليها، وإن أعطيتها عن مسألةٍ وكلت إليها، وإذا حلفت على يمين ، فرأيت غيرها خيراً منها، فأت الذى هو خير ، وكفر عن يمينك” ((متفق عليه)) .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, "Do not ask for position of authority. If you are granted this position without asking for it, you will be helped (by Allah) in discharging its responsibilities; but if you are given it as a result of your request, you will be left alone as its captive. If you take an oath to do something and then find a better alternative, you should adopt the latter and expiate for your oath." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet advised not to seek a position of authority: if it is given without asking, Allah helps you carry it, but if you chase it, you are left to manage it alone. He also taught keeping to the better option after an oath, with expiation.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 673 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 673
Hadith 674
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى ذر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “ يا أبا ذر إني أراك ضعيفاً، وإنى أحبُّ لك ما أحب لنفسي، لا تأمرن على اثنين ولا تولين مال يتيم” ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, "O Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak and I like for you what I like for myself. Do not rule over (even) two persons, and do not manage an orphan's property." [Muslim].
In plain words
Out of care, the Prophet told a man he saw as not strong enough not to take charge even of two people or an orphan's wealth. Authority should match a person's real capacity.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 674 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 674
Hadith 675
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله ألا تستعملني؟ فضرب بيده على منكبي ثم قال: “يا أبا ذر إنك ضعيف، وإنها أمانة، وإنها يوم القيامة خزي وندامة، إلا من أخذها بحقها، وأدى الذى عليه فيها” ((رواه مسلم)).
I said to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Why do you not appoint me to an (official) position?" He (ﷺ) patted me on the shoulder with his hand and said, "O Abu Dharr, you are a weak man and it is a trust and it will be a cause of disgrace and remorse on the Day of Resurrection except for the one who takes it up with a full sense of responsibility and fulfills what is entrusted to him (discharges its obligations efficiently)." [Muslim].
In plain words
When the same man asked for a post, the Prophet explained that authority is a trust that becomes disgrace and regret on the Day of Resurrection, except for one who takes it up responsibly and fulfills it. Office is weighty, not a prize.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 675 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 675
Hadith 676
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إنكم ستحرصون على الإمارة، وستكون ندامة يوم القيامة” ((رواه البخارى)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "You will covet for getting a position of authority, but remember that it will be a cause of humiliation and remorse on the Day of Resurrection." [Al- Bukhari]
In plain words
The Prophet warned that people will crave positions of authority that will turn into humiliation and regret on the Day of Resurrection. Chasing power for its own sake ends badly.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 676 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 676