Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one who will be dearest to God and nearest to Him in station of the day of resurrection will be a just imam, and the one who will be most hateful to God on the day of resurrection and will receive the severest punishment (or as a version has, will be farthest from Him in station) will be a tyrannical imam.”
Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.
‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When God has a good purpose for a ruler He appoints for him a sincere minister who reminds him if he forgets and helps him if he remembers; but when God has a different purpose from that for him He appoints for him an evil minister who does not remind him if he forgets and does not help him if he remembers.”
