Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2128 — The duty of the commander to conduct

It is narrated from Sayyidah Hayyah bint Abi Hayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) that a man came to me at midday. I asked him: "O servant of Allah, what is your need?" He replied: "My companion and I set out in search of our lost camels; my companion went off to look for them, and I stopped here seeking shade, so that I might rest a little and also drink something." She said: I went to a little sour milk of ours (or perhaps she said "dayhah hamidah", sour milk mixed with water) and offered it to him. I tried to recognise him from his features and asked: "O servant of Allah, who are you?" He said: "Abu Bakr." I asked in surprise: "Are you the famous companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Bakr, of whom I have heard?" He said: "Yes." She said: Then I mentioned our raids on the tribe of Khath'am in the days of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and our warring against one another, and the affection and love that Allah Almighty brought about (through Islam), binding us firmly together like the ropes of tents; to illustrate this, he interlaced the fingers of both his hands. I asked: "O servant of Allah, how long will this affair of the people (this order of the caliphate, peace and unity) remain as it is?" He said: "As long as the imams (rulers and leaders) remain upright in the religion." I asked: "What is meant by the imams?" He said: "Have you not seen the chief of a settlement whom the people follow and obey? So as long as they remain upright, the people too will remain upright."
Imam Ahmad bin Mani' (may Allah have mercy on him) also narrated it through Isma'il bin Ulayyah from Ibn Awn with the same chain.