It has been reported on the authority of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Samura who said:
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).
Reported by Muslim (No. 1652c, 1652a, 1652b, 1652d), Al-Bukhari (No. 6622, 6722, 7146, 7147), 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…