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A Hadeeth of the Messenger and two statements from Two Imaams of the Sunnah- Enough to Busy the Hearts with Sincerity and Not Love of Leadership

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) saying: Indeed, the first of the people who will be judged on the Day of Judgment will be a man who died a martyr (in battle). He will be brought forth and (Allaah) will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with them? He will say: I fought for your (sake) until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied; rather you fought so that it might be said (about you): He is brave and it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire. (The second person) will be a man who studied (religious) knowledge and taught it, and he used to recite the Qur’an. He will be brought forth and (Allaah) will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with (such favours)? He will say: I studied (religious) knowledge and taught it and I recited the Qur’an for Your sake. He will say: You have lied; rather you studied (religious) knowledge so that it might be said (about you): He is learned; and you recited the Qur’an so that it might be said (about you): He is a reciter. And it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. (The third person) will be man whom Allah enriched and to whom He gave all kinds of wealth. He will be brought forth and Allah will make known to him His Favours and he will acknowledge them. (Allah) will say: And what did you do with them? He will say: I left no way in which You like that (wealth) should be spent, except that I spent for Your sake. He will say: You have lied; rather you did so that it might be said (about you): He is generous, and it has been said. Then it will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is cast into Hell-Fire.” [1]

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) said, ”There is none who loves leadership, except that he will envy (others), transgress and seek after the faults of the people, and hates that anyone should be mentioned with good.” [2]

Al-Khateeb (rahimahullaah) said: It used to be said, ”Whoever seeks leadership will fall into humiliation.”[3] ——————————————

[1] Muslim. Number 1905]

[2] [Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 2/571]

[3] [Al-Jaami 1/321]