Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Yazid bin Sharik says that Dahhak bin Qais sent a decorated garment to Marwan. Marwan said to the guard: Look, who is at the door? He said: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) is here. He allowed him to come in and said: Abu Hurairah! Narrate a hadith you heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Soon a man will wish that if he were to fall from the star Thurayya, it would be nothing, but (he would wish) that he is not made responsible for any matter of the people."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Awf bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you wish, I will make clear to you the reality of leadership—what it is. First comes blame, then regret, and in the end, on the Day of Resurrection, there is punishment, except for the one who acts with justice and fairness. But who is there who can deal justly with his relatives?"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "You will certainly covet authority and leadership, (but remember that) it will be a cause of regret and remorse on the Day of Resurrection. The one who suckles is very good, but the one who weans is very bad (that is, in the beginning of leadership there is comfort, but its end is not good)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever takes responsibility for the affairs of ten people will come to Allah on the Day of Resurrection with his hands bound to his neck. His good deeds will set him free, or his evil deeds will destroy him. (This leadership) begins with blame, is filled with regret in the middle, and ends with disgrace on the Day of Resurrection."