Yazid bin Mawhab said: Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): "Judge between the people (that is, carry out the duties of a judge)." He said: "I will not judge even between two men, and I will not lead (or rule over) even two men. Did you not hear the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Whoever seeks refuge with Allah has sought refuge with a mighty refuge'?" Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Yes." Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Then I seek refuge with Allah from your appointing me as an official." So Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) excused him and said: "Do not tell anyone about this."
Ahmad recorded it. I do not know the narrator Yazid; the rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الخلافة / 9019
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه احمد فى المسند (475) ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 477، وأخرجه إتحاف الخيرة المهرة بزوائد المسانيد العشرة برقم: 4875/1»