50. Expeditions
٥٠۔ كِتَابُ السِّيَرِ
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»
[Machine] Two men from the Ash'ari tribe came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and began presenting their actions. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, your brothers who seek help from me have not benefited from them in anything."
جَاءَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَجَعَلَا يُعْرِضَانِ بِالْعَمَلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ أَخْوَنَكُمْ عِنْدِي مَنْ طَلَبَهُ فَمَا اسْتَعَانَ بِهِمَا عَلَى شَيْءٍ»
"You will become keen for positions of authority, but that will become a regret and loss. What a good life they will live, but how hard it will be for them when they die." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 4211)
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «إِنَّكُمْ سَتَحْرِصُونَ عَلَى الْإِمَارَةِ وَإِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ نَدَامَةً وَحَسْرَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَنِعْمَ الْمُرْضِعَةُ وَبِئْسَتِ الْفَاطِمَةُ»