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

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! 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

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.

لِيَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ فِيهَا إِلَى نَفْسِكَ وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا

The Prophet ﷺ said to me: 'Abd al-Rahman b. Samurah, when you swear an oath and consider something else to be better than it, do the thing that is beter and make atonement for your oath. Abu Dawud said: I heard Ahmad (b. Hanbal) permitting to make atonement before breaking the oath.

لِيَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ إِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ يَمِينَكَ

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

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not ask for governorship. For if it is given to you because of asking, you will be left to your own devices, but if it is given to you without asking, you will be helped (by Allah).'"

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا

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»

"The Prophet said to me: 'If you swear an oath, and you see something that is better, then do that which is better and offer expiation for your oath.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3789)

لِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ إِذَا آلَيْتَ 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 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

[AI] 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

Yahya related to me from Malik from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih from his father from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever makes an oath and then sees that something else would be better than it, should do kaffara for his oath and do what is better." Yahya said that he heard Malik say, "Anyone who says that he has a vow but does not mention the name of Allah, is still obliged to make the kaffara for an oath (if he breaks it)". Malik said, "Emphasis is when a man swears one thing several times, repeating the oath in his speech time after time. For instance, the statement, 'By Allah, I will not decrease it from such-and-such,' sworn three times or more. The kaffara of that is like the kaffara of one oath. If a man swears, 'I will not eat this food or wear these clothes or enter this house,' that is all in one oath, and he is only obliged to do one kaffara. It is the same for a man who says to his wife, 'You are divorced if I clothe you in this garment or let you go to the mosque,' and it is one entire statement in the normal pattern of speech. If he breaks any of that oath, divorce is necessary, and there is no breaking of oath after that in whatever he does. There is only one oath to be broken in that." Malik said, "What we do about a woman who makes a vow without her husband's permission is that she is allowed to do so and she must fulfill it, if it only concerns her own person and will not harm her husband. If, however, it will harm her husband, he may forbid her to fulfill it, but it remains an obligation against her until she has the opportunity to complete it."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ حَلَفَ بِيَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلْيَفْعَلِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ۔ قَالَ يَحْيَى : سَمِعْتُ مَالِكًا يَقُولُ: مَنْ قَالَ: عَلَيَّ نَذْرٌ، وَلَمْ يُسَمِّ شَيْئًا، إِنَّ عَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَةَ يَمِينٍ. قَالَ مَالِكٌ : فَأَمَّا التَّوْكِيدُ، فَهُوَ حَلِفُ الْإِنْسَانِ فِي الشَّيْءِ الْوَاحِدِ، يُرَدِّدُ فِيهِ الْأَيْمَانَ، يَمِينًا بَعْدَ يَمِينٍ، كَقَوْلِهِ: وَاللهِ، لَا أَنْقُصُهُ مِنْ كَذَا، أَوْ كَذَا، يَحْلِفُ بِذلِكَ مِرَارًا. ثَلَاثًا، أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذلِكَ. قَالَ: فَكَفَّارَةُ ذلِكَ وَاحِدَةٌ، مِثْلُ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ. قَالَ مَالِكٌ : فَإِنْ حَلَفَ رَجُلٌ، فَقَالَ: وَاللهِ لَا آكُلُ هذَا الطَّعَامَ، وَلَا أَلْبَسُ هذَا الثَّوْبَ، وَلَا أَدْخُلُ هذَا الْبَيْتَ. فَكَانَ هذَا فِي يَمِينٍ وَاحِدَةٍ. فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ. وَإِنَّمَا ذلِكَ كَقَوْلِ الرَّجُلِ لِامْرَأَتِهِ: أَنْتِ الطَّلَاقُ، إِنْ كَسَوْتُكِ هذَا الثَّوْبَ، وَلَا أَذِنْتُ لَكِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، يَكُونُ ذلِكَ نَسَقًا مُتَتَابِعًا، فِي كَلَامٍ وَاحِدٍ. فَإِنْ حَنِثَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ ذلِكَ وَاحِدٌ، فَقَدْ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ الطَّلَاقُ، وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا فَعَلَ، بَعْدَ ذلِكَ، حِنْثٌ. إِنَّمَا الْحِنْثُ فِي ذلِكَ حِنْثٌ وَاحِدٌ. قَالَ مَالِكٌ : الْأَمْرُ عِنْدَنَا فِي نَذْرِ الْمَرْأَةِ، أَنَّهُ جَائِزٌ عَلَيْهَا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ زَوْجِهَا، يَجِبُ عَلَيْهَا ذلِكَ، وَيَثْبُتُ إِذَا كَانَ ذلِكَ فِي جَسَدِهَا، وَكَانَ ذلِكَ لَا يَضُرُّ بِزَوْجِهَا. وَإِنْ كَانَ ذلِكَ يَضُرُّ بِزَوْجِهَا كَانَ ذلِكَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى تَقْضِيَهُ.

[AI] 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»

[AI] 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»

[AI] "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»

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). (Using translation from Muslim 1652c)

قَالَ كَأَنَّهُ يَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ «لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَلَى غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا»

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

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Dawud al-Alawi informed me that Muhammad ibn 'Umar ibn Jameel al-Azdi narrated to us, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn al-Haytham al-Baladi, on the authority of Adam ibn Abi Iyas, on the authority of Hushaym, on the authority of Yunus ibn 'Ubaid, and Mansur ibn Zadhan, and Humaid al-Tawil, on the authority of Al-Hasan that he said: Abdur-Rahman ibn Samurah narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "If you take an oath with your right hand, and then you see something better than it, then go to what is better and expiate for your oath."

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ح وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْعَلَوِيُّ أنبأ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ جَمِيلٍ الْأَزْدِيُّ ثنا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ الْبَلَدِيُّ ثنا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ ثنا هُشَيْمُ ثنا يُونُسُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ وَمَنْصُورُ بْنُ زَاذَانَ وَحُمَيْدٌ الطَّوِيلُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَمُرَةَ ؓ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا آلَيْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ إِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ

[AI] The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , said, "O 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Samurah, if you take an oath on a certain matter and then see something better than it, then break your oath and fulfill what is better."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ إِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَائْتِ 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." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6622)

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِّلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَائْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ

[AI] On the authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who said: "If any one of you swears an oath and then sees that something else is better than it, then let him make expiation for his oath and do what is better."

عَنِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِذَا حَلَفَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلْيَنْظُرِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ فَلْيَأْتِهِ

[AI] 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

"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".

"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".

  . . . .

"عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ: يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمنِ لا تَسْأَل الإمَارَةَ فإنَّكَ إِنْ تَسَألهَا ثُمَّ تُعْطَهَا تُوْكلْ إلَيْهَا وإِنْ تُحْمَلْ عَلَيْهَا تُعَنْ عَلَيْها، وإِنْ حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيرًا مِنْهَا فَأتِ الَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثم كَفِّر عَنْ يِمِينك، وَأنَّهُ لا نَذْرَ في يمِين ولا قطيعَة رَحَمٍ ولا فِيمَا لا تَمْلِكُ".