825/1 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “None of you should make a man rise from his seat then sit in it. Rather, make room and spread out.” When anyone would stand in a gathering to make room for Ibn ‘Umar, he would not sit there. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) It points out the Prophetic Sunnah of making room and spreading out in gatherings. This manner brings love and harmony among people.
2) It highlights the piety and care shown by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father).
826/2 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When one of you gets up from his place and then returns to it, he is more entitled to it.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) If a person leaves his seat in a gathering for some need and then returns to it, he is more entitled to it than others.
2) Islam is careful to give everyone their due rights, curbing vain inclinations and respecting the rights of brotherliness in faith.
827/3 - Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “When we went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), one would sit at any empty place near the group.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1) It points out one of the etiquettes related to gatherings, namely sitting at any empty place near the group.
2) This etiquette is recommended in all gatherings in general and in the gatherings of knowledge in particular, for they are the noblest and most worthy of proper manners.
828/4 - Abu ‘Abdullāh Salmān al-Fārisi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a man takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, uses his (hair) oil or applies whatever perfume available in his house, then proceeds (for the Friday prayer) and does not separate two people (to make a seat for himself), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him, and remains silent when the Imam speaks, his sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) One of the etiquettes of attending the Friday prayer is not to separate between two persons. But if there is a gap between two persons, then filling it is not considered separating between them.
2) Expiation of sins from Friday to Friday is conditional upon the fulfillment of all the etiquettes mentioned in the Hadīth. A complete reward depends on a complete action.
829/5 - ‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb related from his father that his grandfather (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is not lawful for a man to separate two persons except with their permission.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan (sound)]
In a version by Abu Dāwūd: “He should not sit between two men except with their permission.”
1) It is not permissible to separate two persons, unless they give permission in words or action.
2) A Muslim should be considerate of people’s feelings and not annoy them.
830/6 - Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who sits in the middle of people’s circle. [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with a sound Isnād]
Al-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Mijlaz that a man sat in the middle of a circle. Thereupon, Hudhayfah said: “He is cured by the tongue of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him),” or “Allah cursed through the tongue of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), he who sits in the middle of a circle.” [Al-Tirmidhi classified this Hadīth as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
1) A person should sit at any empty place near the gathering, not in the middle of the circle.
2) When a person sits in the middle of a circle, he acts as a barrier amongst them, and this is a form of encroachment upon their rights.
831/7 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “The best gatherings are the widest.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd with an authentic Isnād that meets the conditions of Al-Bukhāri]
1) Wide gatherings are the best of gatherings, since they give a sense of relief and spaciousness.
2) Attendees should prevent anything that restricts the space of the gathering, lest it may lose its benefit. This is particularly so if it is a gathering of knowledge.
832/8 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever sits in a gathering and indulges in useless talk, and before getting up, he says, ‘Subhānak Allāhumma wa bihamdik, ashhadu an la ilāha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk (O Allah, glory and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance),’ he will be forgiven for what took place in that assembly.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
833/9 - Abu Barzah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) intended to get up from the assembly, the last thing he would say was: “O Allah, glory and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance.” A man asked: “O Messenger of Allah, you utter words now which you did not say in the past?” He replied: “This is an atonement for what takes place in the assembly.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]
It was also narrated by Al-Hākim in Al-Mustadrak as reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). He classified its Isnād as authentic.
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1) If a person sits in a gathering and engages in a lot of idle talk, he can expiate for that through the reported supplication. A believer should be keen to memorize this supplication, say it in gatherings, and teach it to other attendees.
2) The supplication involves exaltation of Allah Almighty above any imperfection, praise Him for everything, affirmation of His divinity and oneness, and repenting to Him.
This supplication should also be said at the end of pious gatherings, acting like a seal, as indicated in an authentic Hadīth narrated by Al-Nasā’i and reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “When the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) sat in a gathering or offered a prayer, he would utter certain words. I asked him about these words and he replied: ‘If he (a person) has spoken some good words, these will be a seal for them to preserve them until the Day of Resurrection, and if he has spoken otherwise, these will be an expiation for him: Subhānak Allāhumma wa bihamdik, la ilāha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk (O Allah, glory and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance).’”
834/10 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would rarely get up from a gathering without making this supplication: “Allāhumma iqsim lana min khashyatika ma tahūlu bihi baynana wa bayna ma‘āsīk, wa min tā‘atika ma tuballighuna bihi jannatak, wa min al-yaqīni ma tuhawwinu bihi ‘alayna masā’ib al-dunya. Allāhumma matti‘na bi-asmā‘ina wa absārina wa quwwātina mā ahyaytana, waj‘alhu al-wāritha minna, waj‘al tha’rana ‘ala man zhalamana, wansurna ‘ala man ‘ādana, wa la taj‘al musībatana fi dīnina, wa la taj‘al al-dunya akbara hammina wa la mablagha ‘ilmina, wa la tusallit ‘alayna man la yarhamuna ( O Allah, apportion to us such fear that should serve as a barrier between us and acts of disobedience; and such obedience that should take us to Your Paradise; and such certitude that should alleviate for us the calamities of this worldly life. O Allah, let us enjoy our hearing, our sight and our strength as long as You keep us alive, and allow this to remain until our death, and make our retaliation restricted to those who oppress us, and give us victory over those who show hostility towards us. Let no misfortune afflict our religion; let not worldly affairs be our main concern or the ultimate limit of our knowledge, and give not authority over us to those who do not show mercy to us.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; and he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1) We are encouraged to supplicate Allah Almighty to grant us what stands as a barrier between us and acts of disobedience, namely fear of Allah. The more a person is fearful of his Lord, the more he exalts Him.
2) A person should constantly seek help from Allah Almighty. Indeed, we can only be led to obedience with help from our Lord.
3) It is recommended to ask Allah Almighty for the continuity of His favors and enjoying them in a lawful manner.
4) This Dhikr is not required all the time. What is meant here is that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would often say it.
835/11 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No people leave a gathering in which they do not remember Allah Almighty except that it will be as if they are leaving the carcass of a donkey, and it will be a cause of regret for them.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with an authentic Isnād]
836/12 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No people sit in an assembly where they do not mention the name of Allah or invoke prayers upon their Prophet but they will regret it. If Allah wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; and he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
837/13 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever sits in a place where he does not remember Allah, deprivation will descend on him from Allah; and whoever lies down in a place where he does not remember Allah, deprivation will descend on him from Allah.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]
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1) As he attends a gathering, a person should engage in remembrance of Allah and invocation of Allah’s blessings upon His Prophet; otherwise, the gathering will be a source of regret for him.
2) Remembrance of Allah makes gatherings good and hearts tranquil. His remembrance is cure, while the remembrance of people is a malaise.
Imam Al-Hasan al-Basri said in his comment on the following verse: {And they spend out of what We have provided for them},
“One of the best types of spending is the giving of knowledge.” Another tradition says:
“The most excellent gift is a good word, which a person hears and then presents to his fellow Muslim.” Abu al-Dardā’ is reported to have said: “No charity would a person give better than admonition that he gives to his fellow believers, who then disperse after receiving this benefit from him.” [Majmū‘ al-Fatāwa]