The Wisdom of Not Seeking Power
📖Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7146, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1652
Abdur Rahman ibn Samurah reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, “O Abdur Rahman, do not ask for authority! If it is given to you at your request, you will be held fully responsible for it. If it is given to you without your request, you will be helped by Allah in it.
Description
This hadith teaches the wisdom of avoiding personal ambition for positions of authority. Leadership is a heavy responsibility, and seeking it voluntarily may result in greater accountability before Allah. Accepting authority without requesting it allows Allah to guide and support the leader, ensuring justice and righteousness.
Meaning and Lessons
Seeking authority on one’s own may lead to trials, as leaders could become distracted from God, lose focus on justice, or act selfishly, leading to sin, If a person refuses authority, it indicates sincere belief and fear of committing wrongdoing. When people insist and grant leadership, Allah provides help, either through His angels or by guiding the person’s actions. This shows that the person is already a true believer and that their work will be conducted according to Allah’s guidance.
The success and ability of the leader come from Allah, not personal skill or ambition, so all credit ultimately goes to Allah.
Quranic Context
📖Quran 28:83
That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the best outcome is for the righteous.
📖Quran 40:51
Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.
Allah promises to support His messengers and the believers both in this life and the Hereafter. However, His support is according to His wisdom and knowledge of what is best, not necessarily in the exact way a person expects. This aligns with the hadith about leadership: when authority is given without request, Allah aids the leader in the way that benefits the mission and preserves justice, ensuring His guidance prevails.