عَنْ اَبَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ اَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِؑ يَقُولُ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْاَحْدَاثِ اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَ لَا تَأْتُوا الرُّؤَسَاءَ دَعُوهُمْ حَتَّى يَصِيرُوا اَذْنَابًا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الرِّجَالَ وَلَائِجَ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ اَنَا وَ اللهِ اَنَا وَ اللهِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ اِلَى صَدْرِهِ
Abaan reports, “I heard Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) say, ‘O group of youths! Fear Allah and don’t go to the chiefs. Leave them till they become tails (i.e. they lag far behind/let them follow you and you don’t follow them). Don’t take men as confidantes other than Allah. By Allah, I, by Allah, I am better for you than them.’ Thereafter, he (peace be upon him) beat his hand to his chest.”
Note:
Leaders become leaders due to their followers, especially the youths. A person’s value in front of Allah the High depends on the type of leaders he chooses for himself. Without any doubt, the infallible Imams from the Ahle Bait (peace be upon them) are the best leaders for this world as well as the hereafter.
References:
1. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 24, p. 246, H. 5
2. Tafseer al-Ayyaashi (r.a.), vol. 2, p. 83, H. 32