Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2167 — Being a tribal chief ('irafah)

Imam al-Humaydi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Sufyan bin Uyaynah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated to us, narrating from Salih bin Salih (may Allah have mercy on him) (and he, Salih, was a better man than his two sons), who narrated from Imam al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) that people said (to him): "Appoint this man as 'arif (overseer and officer) over us." He said: "Your 'arif is only (ever) the one who is al-ahyas al-akyas (very strong and very cunning), who is like al-dhi'b al-atlas (a dust-coloured (sharp) wolf), who is al-mukud al-milhas (one who amasses wealth greedily and licks up everything), such that when he is told "ha" (take this), he snatches it up, and when he is told "hati" (now pay (the due) or bring it), he draws back and shies away."
Imam al-Humaydi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated this report in his Musnad al-Humaydi, in which Imam al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) describes, in figurative and metaphorical style, the traits of a worldly, self-serving official: such a person is very quick in taking and extremely slow when it comes to giving.