Sahih Muslim Hadith 4718 – The Prohibition Of

English

[4718] 15 – ( … ) Abü Müsã said: "I came to the Prophet , with two men of the Ash'aris, one on my right and one on my left, and both of them asked for a position of authority. The Prophet was using a Siwâk (tooth stick) and he said: 'What are you saying, 0 Abü Müsâ (or 0 'Abdullâh bin Qais)?' I said: 'By the One Who has sent you with the truth, they did not tell me what was on their minds, and I did not realize that they were going to ask for positions of authority." He said: "It is as if I can see his Siwâk between his lips. He said: 'We will never appoint to this work those who want it. Rather you should go, 0 Abü Müsâ (or 0 'Abdullâh bin Qais)." And he sent him to be in charge of Yemen, then he sent Mu'âdh bin Jabal after him. When (Mu'âdh) reached him he said: "Dismount," and he spread a mattress for him. There was a man with him who was tied up. He said: "W'.-,t is this?" He said: "This man was a Jew who became Muslim, then he went back to his old laise religion, and became a Jew again." He said: "I will not sit down until he is executed in accordance with the decree of Allah and His Messenger s." He said: "Sit down, it will be done." He said: "I will not sit down until he is killed in accordance with the decree of Allah and His Messenger ," (and he said that) three times. So he ordered that he be killed. Then they spoke of praying Qiyâm at night, and one of them, that is, Mu'âdh, said: "As for me, I sleep and I pray Qiyâm, and I hope that I will get the same (reward) for my sleep as for my prayer." Chapter 4. It Is Disliked To Be Appointed To A Position Of Authority Unnecessarily