Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do not seek to be a ruler, for, if you are given the authority of ruling without your asking for it, then Allah will help you; but if you are given it by your asking, then you will be held responsible for it.”

“And if you take an oath to do something and later on find another thing, better than that, then do what is better and make expiation for your oath."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا.»

«وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ.»  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "O ʿAbdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, because if you are given authority for it, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped in it (by Allah): and whenever you take an oath to do something and later you find that something else is better than the first, then do the better one and make expiation for your oath."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "O ʿAbdur-Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking (for it), then you will be helped (by Allah) in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ يَمِينَكَ وَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O ʿAbdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand, you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped (by Allah) in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then do what is better and make expiation for your oath."  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "O ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Samurah, don't ask for authority, for if it is granted to you for asking for it, you would be held responsible for it ˹without Divine blessings˺. However, if you are granted it without your asking for it, you would be helped ˹by Allah˺ in it."

"And when you take an oath and find something else better than that, expiate for ˹breaking˺ your oath, and do that which is better."  

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ، لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا۔»

«وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ، وَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ۔»  

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).  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا  

That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "O 'Abdur-Rahman! Do not ask for a position of leadership, for if you receive it due to asking, you will be left alone with it, and if you receive it without asking, then you will be aided in it. And if you take an oath and you see that something else is better than it, then do what is better, and make an atonement for your oath."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أَتَتْكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أَتَتْكَ عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَلْتُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَجَابِرٍ وَعَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ وَأَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ وَأَنَسٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَأَبِي مُوسَى  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "(O ʿAbdur-Rahman!) Do not seek to be a ruler, for, if you are given the authority of ruling without your asking for it, then Allah will help you; but if you are given it by your asking, then you will be held responsible for it (i.e. Allah will not help you ) . And if you take an oath to do something and later on find another thing, better than that, then do what is better and make expiation for (the dissolution of) your oath." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6722)  

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "(O ʿAbdur-Rahman!) Do not seek to be a ruler, for, if you are given the authority of ruling without your asking for it, then Allah will help you; but if you are given it by your asking, then you will be held responsible for it (i.e. Allah will not help you ) . And if you take an oath to do something and later on find another thing, better than that, then do what is better and make expiation for (the dissolution of) your oath." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6722)  

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَاعَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ mentioned and said, "Do not ask for leadership, for if you are given it without asking, you will be held accountable for it. But if you are given it by asking, you will be entrusted with it. And if you swear an oath on something and then see something better than it, then fulfill what is better and compensate for your oath."  

ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ تُعْطَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ تُعَنْ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْتُعْطَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ تُكَلْ إِلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "(O ʿAbdur-Rahman!) Do not seek to be a ruler, for, if you are given the authority of ruling without your asking for it, then Allah will help you; but if you are given it by your asking, then you will be held responsible for it (i.e. Allah will not help you ) . And if you take an oath to do something and later on find another thing, better than that, then do what is better and make expiation for (the dissolution of) your oath." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6722)  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍوُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "O ʿAbdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, because if you are given authority for it, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped in it (by Allah): and whenever you take an oath to do something and later you find that something else is better than the first, then do the better one and make expiation for your oath." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6622)  

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "O ʿAbdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, because if you are given authority for it, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped in it (by Allah): and whenever you take an oath to do something and later you find that something else is better than the first, then do the better one and make expiation for your oath." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6622)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ «لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا فَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "O Abdul Rahman, do not ask for leadership, for if you are given it as a result of your request, you will be left to deal with it on your own. And if you are given it without asking, you will be assisted in it. And if you are given a choice between two options and you see that one of them is better, then choose the one that is better and ask Allah to bless your choice."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا آلَيْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكِ»  

[Machine] "The Prophet ﷺ said to him, 'O Abdur-Rahman, do not ask for leadership, for if you are given it as a result of your asking, you will be left alone to deal with it, but if you are given it without asking, you will be helped in it. And if you take an oath to do something and later find something else better, then do what is better and make expiation for your oath.'"  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ «يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Abdur-Rahman, do not ask for leadership. If it is given to you without asking, you will be entrusted with it. But if you are given it after asking, you will be left to deal with it on your own. And if you swear an oath on something and then you see something better than it, then do what is better and make atonement for breaking your oath."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أَتَتْكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أَتَتْكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكِ»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: 'Abdul al-Rahman b. Samurah, do not ask for the position of commander, for if you are given it after asking you will be left to discharge it yourself, but if you are given it without asking you will be helped to discharge it. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2929)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ «لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "(O ʿAbdur-Rahman!) Do not seek to be a ruler, for, if you are given the authority of ruling without your asking for it, then Allah will help you; but if you are given it by your asking, then you will be held responsible for it (i.e. Allah will not help you ) . And if you take an oath to do something and later on find another thing, better than that, then do what is better and make expiation for (the dissolution of) your oath." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6722)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , said to me, "O Abu Abdullah, do not seek power, for if you are given it due to a request, you will be burdened with it, and if you are given it without asking, you will be held accountable for it. And if you swear an oath on something, and then see something better than it, then go to what is better and expiate for breaking your oath."  

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ 0 اللهِ ﷺ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me and Abu Abdullah narrated to us, Abu Bakr Ahmed bin Ishaq Al-Faqih informed me, Ismail bin Qutaybah narrated to us, Yahya bin Yahya informed us, Khaled bin Abdullah narrated from Yunus, from Al-Hassan, from Abdul Rahman bin Samurah, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Abdul Rahman, do not seek leadership, for if it is given to you due to your request, you will be responsible for it, and if it is given to you without your request, you will be helped with it. And if you swear an oath on something, then you see something better than it, go to what is better and expiate your oath."  

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ح وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ ثنا أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ الْفَقِيهُ أنبأ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ قُتَيْبَةَ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أنبأ خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ ؓ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ  

"يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ: لاَ تَسْألِ الإِمَارَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْالَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا، وَإنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْألَةٍ أعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا، وَإذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا؛ فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ، وَأتِ الَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ".

. . . .  

"لا نذْرَ وَلا يَمينَ فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ، وَلَا يَمينَ فِيمَا لا تَمْلِكُ، وَإذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى قَطِيعَة رَحِمٍ أَوْ فيِمَا لَا تَملك فَرَأيتَ خَيرًا مِنْهَا فَأتِ الذِي هُوَ خَيرٌ، وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمينِكَ، وَلا تَسْأَلَنَّ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْألَةٍ وَكَلَكَ اللهُ إِلَيهَا، وَإنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أعَانَكَ اللهُ عَلَيهَا".