The one who seeks power and leadership is enslaved to those who can help him to achieve this, even if it outwardly appears that he is in charge of them and is the one who issues commands to them. In reality, his hopes and fears rest on them, so he gives them money and positions of authority and overlooks their mistakes so that they will obey him and help him. Although he appears to be the boss giving orders, in fact he is a slave to them.

Indeed, the truth is that each of them is a slave to the other, for both have forsaken true enslavement to Allah. If their co-operation to gain power on earth is unjust, then they are just like those who co-operate in shameful deeds or banditry. Each one of them, because of the desires by which he is enslaved, is a slave to the other.

(See al-U’budiyyah)