Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 32599 — Reports on talk about rulers

Tamim bin Hadhlam said: The first time a governor of Kufah was greeted with the title of Commander came about in this way: Sayyiduna al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) came out of his palace, and a man of the tribe of Kindah came to him and greeted him as Commander. He said: "What is this? I am only one of the ordinary people." So that title was abandoned for a time, and then later it was adopted.