Chapter 6. Refusing to take a Position of Authority in this world

Know that the inner self loves superiority over its kind, this is why leadership is favored for the position of ordering and forbidding. Although leadership and authority is needed there are many risks in it, the least of which is discharge, the worst of which is injustice in judgement and the middle of which is wasting time if the intention of the one in charge is insincere.

A person who loves leadership and authority should know that he will think that leadership is great until he attains it. If he attains it, it becomes lowly and he will aspire to what is higher than it. For the delight disappears [after it is achieved], the sins remain [after they are committed], as well as risking oneself and one's religion. Therefore, reflecting upon all of this is the cure for the love of leadership and authority.

Abu Umamah (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said, "There is no man who becomes the leader of ten or what is more than that except that he will come to Allah  on the Day of Judgment with his hand chained to his neck, his righteousness will release him or his wrongdoing will destroy him. The beginning of it leadership] is blame, the middle of it is regret and the end of it is degradation on the Day of Judgement." (Tabarani and Ahmad)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated from the Prophet (saw), that he said, "Woe to the rulers! Woe to the corporals! Woe to the ones in authority! Some people will wish that their forelocks were hanged from the Pleiades, they were swaying between the heavens and the earth rather than being responsible for anything." (Ahmad, Bayhaqi and Ibn Asakir)

Imam Muslim documented in his Sahih that Abu Dhar (ra) said, "Messenger of Allah! Won't you make me responsible for anything? So he [the Messenger] hit my shoulder with his hand and said, O Abu Dhar! You are weak, it is a trust, on the Day of Judgement it is a humiliation, a regret except for whoever took it rightfully and fulfilled his obligations towards it." (Muslim)

In a different text: "O Abu Dhar! I love for you what I love for myself! Do not be the leader of two and do not be in charge of the money of an orphan." (Muslim)

• Averting Gluttony (Sharah)
• Averting Stinginess

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