Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was likened to Moses. Our Prophet’s state was superior to that of Moses, for he had none of this. Likewise, among the Companions were Abū Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrāh and others who were free of all these things. They therefore held a higher rank than those who felt rivalry and wished for blessings like those of others, even when this was permissible. This is why Abū Ubaydah, may Allah be pleased with him, deserved to be the trusted man of this community. Someone entrusted with a responsibility who has no desire to compete for anything placed in his care is more worthy of that trust than someone whose competing ambitions are feared.
This is why eunuchs are entrusted with the care of women and children; lesser authority is entrusted to someone known not to compete for higher authority; and wealth is entrusted to someone known to have no desire to take any of it. Entrusting someone who harbours treachery is like entrusting a wolf with sheep: he cannot discharge that trust because he covets what has been placed in his care.
In the hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“One day we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he said, ‘A man destined for Paradise will now appear before you from this mountain pass.’ Then a man from the Ansār appeared, his beard dripping with water from his ablution and his sandals hanging from his left hand, and offered his greeting. The next day, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said the same thing, and that man appeared in the same condition. On the third day, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, repeated his words, and that man appeared in the same condition. When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, rose, Abdullāh ibn Amr ibn al-Ās followed the man—may Allah be pleased