Sunan an-Nasa'i, Book 49, Hadith 4 (In-Book) ⓘ
It was narrated that Abu Musa said: "Some people from among the Ash'aris came to me and said: 'Go with us to the Messenger of Allah [SAW], for we have something to ask him.' So I went with them, and they said: 'O Messenger of Allah, use us to do your work.'" Abu Musa said: "I apologized for what they said, and I told him that I did not know what they were going to ask. He believed me and excused me, and said: 'We do not appoint for our work anyone who asks for that.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْسٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ أَتَانِي نَاسٌ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ فَقَالُوا اذْهَبْ مَعَنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِنَّ لَنَا حَاجَةً. فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَعِنْ بِنَا فِي عَمَلِكَ. قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَاعْتَذَرْتُ مِمَّا قَالُوا وَأَخْبَرْتُ أَنِّي لاَ أَدْرِي مَا حَاجَتُهُمْ فَصَدَّقَنِي وَعَذَرَنِي. فَقَالَ " إِنَّا لاَ نَسْتَعِينُ فِي عَمَلِنَا بِمَنْ سَأَلَنَا " .
also referenced under: Hadith 5382 (Reference) & Volume 6, Book 49, Hadith 5384 (DarusSalam)