Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 40519 — Reports on Uthman (may Allah be)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Quraysh: "This matter of the caliphate is among you, and you are its custodians, as long as you do not do something because of which Allah Almighty takes it away from you. When you do that, Allah Almighty will set the worst of creation over you, and they will strip you as a branch is stripped."