Sayyidunā Rāfiʿ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ professes to this fact by saying:

I asked Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ for advice. He then said twice, “May Allah have mercy upon you and grant you blessings.” (After this, he began to say) “Offer farḍ salah on time, wholeheartedly give zakat, observe the fasts of Ramaḍān, perform ḥajj of Baytullah, and do not ever become a ruler.”

I responded, “Master! It is rulers who are the best of the ummah today.” He said, “Ruling is easy today. I fear that due to the increase of conquests in the future, the number of governments will increase, and it is possible that unworthy rulers will also appear. However, the accountability of the ruler will be lengthy on the Day of Judgement and his punishment greater, but the accountability of a common person will be short and his punishment light.

This is because the ruler commits more injustices, and the unjust ruler breaks the promises of Allah. Some from among these rulers (who are fair and just) are close to Allah, and some (who are unjust) are driven away from Him.

By Allah! When one of you steals his neighbour’s goat or camel, he becomes pleased he has done so, whereas Allah is more rightful to make punishment descend upon them.”^[1]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد