Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 32595 — Reports on talk about rulers

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) removed Sayyiduna Shurahbil bin Hasanah (may Allah be pleased with him) from office, he said: O Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)! Have you removed me out of some displeasure? He said: No, but we have seen a man stronger than you, and we felt afraid before Allah Almighty to leave you in place when we have seen one stronger than you. Sayyiduna Shurahbil (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Then make my excuse clear to the people. So Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stood on the pulpit and said: We had appointed Shurahbil bin Hasanah as governor, then we removed him without any displeasure, the reason being that we found someone stronger than him. We felt afraid before Allah Almighty to keep him in his post when we had found someone stronger than him. After that, in the evening, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that the people were going to the governor who had been appointed, while Sayyiduna Shurahbil (may Allah be pleased with him) sat alone with his hands clasped. He said: The world is indeed base.