DO NOT SEEK AN OFFICIAL POSITION H 679 'Do not ask for public office. If you are given it without asking you will be helped in the discharge of its responsibilities, but if you are given it because you asked you will be its captive. If you vow to do a thing and then find a better alternative adopt the latter and make up for your vow.'" R 679 Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abdur Rahman the son of Samurah reported that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this to him.
673- وعن أَبي سعيدٍ عبدِ الرحمانِ بن سَمُرَة رضي الله عنه ، قَالَ : قَالَ لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم : "يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحمان بن سَمُرَةَ ، لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإمَارَةَ ؛ فَإنّكَ إن أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْألَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَإنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْألَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا ، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ، فَرَأيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْراً مِنْهَا ، فَأتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينكَ" متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ .