Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O `Abdur-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."
Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 7147, 6622, 6722, 7146), Muslim (No. 1652a, 1652b, 1652c, 1652d), Abu Dawud (No. 2929, 3277, 3278), At-Tirmidhi (No. 1529), An-Nasa’i (No. 3783, 3784, 3789, 3790, 3791, 5384), Ahmad (No. 19702, 19704, 19707, 19709, 19711, 19712) and Ad-Darimi (No. 2241).
‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "O ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah, do not ask for a position of authority, for if you were granted such authority upon your request, you would be left…
-عن أبى موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه قال: دخلت على النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أنا ورجلان من بني عمي، فقال أحدهما: يا رسول الله أمرنا على بعض ما ولاك الله، عز وجل، وقال الآخر مثل ذلك، فقال: “إنا والله لا نولى هذا العمل…
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to (an official position)?" He patted me on my shoulder with his hand and said: "O Abu Dharr, you are weak and it is a trust. It will be a cause of disgrace and remorse on the Day of…