46. Gatherings

46. Gatherings

chapter 533. The best gathering is the most expansive one

1136. ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn Abi ‘Amra al-Ansari related to him, “Abu Sa’id al-Khudri was told of a funeral.” He continued, “It seemed that he was hanging back until people had taken their seats. Then he came. When the people saw him, they quickly made room for him. One of them stood up for him to let him sit in his place. He said, ‘Don’t. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “The best gathering is the most expansive one.” ‘Then he went to the side and sat in an expansive gathering.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The excellence of spacious gatherings may be understood from the fact that they allow the people to be relaxed and prevent grudge bearing and repugnance brought about by constricted sittings. 2. It seems the companion refused to sit in the place of the one who stood up for him since that may lead to making people leave their sits for others to sit which is prohibited by the Prophet ([r]). The religion prohibits embarrassing the people, making them stand up from their sits for others to sit, and encourages spreading out, creating space and honouring one another

chapter 534. Facing qibla

1137. Munqidh said, “In most of the gatherings of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, he would face qibla. Once Yazid ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Fusayt recited Sajda after sunrise. He prostrated and the people there prostrated with the exception of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar. When the sun rose, ‘Abdullah uncurled his legs and then prostrated. He said, ‘Did you see the prostration of your companions? They prostrated at a time when the prayer should not be done.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 535. When someone stands up and then returns to his place

1138. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When one of you gets up from his place and then returns to it, he is more entitled to.”
Grade:
Commentary: Therefore, if he returns he could request the one who took the place to rise and then he sits there. It shows an exception for the prohibition of making a person leave a sit for another

chapter 536. Sitting in the road

1139. Anas said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to us when we were children. He greeted us and sent me to get something he needed. He sat in the road waiting for me until I came back to him.” Anas continued, “I kept Umm Sulaym [his mother] waiting and she asked, ‘What kept you?’ I replied, ‘The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent me for something he needed.’ ‘What was it?’ she asked. ‘It is a secret,’ I replied. She said, ‘Keep the secret of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The point of reference from the hadeeth in relation to the chapter title was the Prophet’s sitting on the road as he waited for Anas . However, the permissibility of sitting on the road has some conditions cited in other narrations. See Chapter 544

chapter 537. Making room in a gathering

1140. Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “None of you should make a man rise from his seat and then sit in it. Rather make room and spread out.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The religion prohibits embarrassing the people, making them stand up from their sits for others to sit, and encourages spreading out, creating space and honouring one another

chapter 538. A man sitting at the edge of a gathering

1141. Jabir ibn Samura said, “When we came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we would sit at the edge of the group.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: On the other hand, the person(s) who are to address the gathering may move forward to their places as was the case when Jibreel – alayhis-salam – came to teach the people their religion while the Prophet ([r]) was in a sitting with the companions (radiya Allahu anhum). In the report of Aboo Hurayrah and Aboo Dharr (radiya Allahu anhuma) in Sunan an-Nasaaee and others, it says: “The stranger asked, ‘Should I come close, O Muhammad?’ The Prophet ([r]) answered, ‘Come close.’ The stranger kept on asking to come close many times and he was told, ‘come close.’ So he stepped over the shoulders of the people until he sat down before the Prophet ([r]) in the manner each of us sits in his Salat.”

chapter 539. Do not separate two people

1142. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “It is not lawful for a man to separate two people except with the permission of both of them.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)

chapter 540. Stepping over people to move towards the leader of a gathering

1143. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “When ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was attacked, I was one of those who carried him into his house. He said to me, ‘Nephew, go see who wounded me and who was wounded with me.’ I went and returned to tell him, but the room was full at that time. I did not want to step over people’s necks because I was young, and so I sat down. ‘Umar’s rule when he sent someone for a need was that he commanded him not to tell about it. ‘Umar had a cover over him. Ka’b came and said, ‘By Allah, if the Amir al-Mu’minin makes supplication, Allah will let him remain alive and restore him to this community until he does such-and-such and such-and-such for them’ until Ka’b mentioned the hypocrites. He actually named them and used their kunyas. I said, ‘Shall I convey to him what you have said?’ Ka’b said, ‘I only said it because I intended that it be done.’ I plucked up courage and stood up, I stepped over people’s necks until I sat by ‘Umar’s head. I said, ‘You sent me to find out such-and-such. Thirteen people were wounded with you. Kulayb ibn al-Jazzar was wounded while he was doing wudu’ from the cistern. Ka’b swore such-and-such by Allah.’ He said, ‘Summon Ka’b.’ He was summoned and ‘Umar asked, ‘What did you say?’ He replied, ‘I said such-and-such.’ He said, ‘No, by Prophet, I will not make supplication. ‘Umar will be wretched if Allah does not forgive him.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

1144. Ash-Sha’bi said, “A man came to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr when there were some people sitting with him. He stepped over them in order to reach him. They stopped him and ‘Abdullah said, ‘Leave the man.’ He approached until he sat with him and then said, ‘Tell me something which you heard from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ ‘Abdullah said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe. An emigrant (muhajir) is someone who abandons what Allah has forbidden.”‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: On the other hand, the person(s) who are to address the gathering may move forward to their places as was the case when Jibreel – alayhis-salam – came to teach the people their religion while the Prophet ([r]) was in a sitting with the companions (radiya Allahu anhum). In the report of Aboo Hurayrah and Aboo Dharr (radiya Allahu anhuma) in Sunan an-Nasaaee and others, it says: “The stranger asked, ‘Should I come close, O Muhammad?’ The Prophet ([r]) answered, ‘Come close.’ The stranger kept on asking to come close many times and he was told, ‘come close.’ So he stepped over the shoulders of the people until he sat down before the Prophet ([r]) in the manner each of us sits in his Salat.”

chapter 541. The noblest of people for a person is his companion

1145. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “The most precious of people in my opinion is my sitting companion.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Shaykh Husayn al-‘Awaayisha (hafizahullah) explains, “It encourages a man to honour those who sit with him and his visitors. This is doubtlessly restricted to pious companions because their sitting with him helps him upon righteousness and cooperating upon the truth and mutual encouragement on patience.” 1. The one who does a thing found disquieting by those around him may explain the reason for his action. 2. ‘Awf bin Malik was a companion of the Prophet ([r]) who witnessed the Triumph over Makkah; yet he sought to only have pious people around him. Katheer bin Murrah (الله رحمه (was a student of the companions; he met about seventy of those who fought at Badr among the companions – radiya Allahu anhum.

1146. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “The most precious of people in my opinion is my sitting companion. This is so much the case that he can step over the shoulders of people until he sits with me.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 542. Can a man put his foot in front of someone he is sitting with

1147. Kathir ibn Murra related, “I entered the mosque on Friday and found ‘Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja’i sitting in a circle of men. He stretched out his feet in front of him. When he saw me, he pulled his feet back in. Then he said to me, ‘Do you know why I put my foot out? So that a righteous man might come and sit down.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The one who does a thing found disquieting by those around him may explain the reason for his action. 2. ‘Awf bin Malik was a companion of the Prophet ([r]) who witnessed the Triumph over Makkah; yet he sought to only have pious people around him. Katheer bin Murrah (الله رحمه (was a student of the companions; he met about seventy of those who fought at Badr among the companions – radiya Allahu anhum.

chapter 543. When someone in a group of people spits

1148. Al-Harith ibn ‘Amr as-Sahmi related, “I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he was at Mina or at ‘Arafa. People crowded around him and some Bedouins arrived. When they saw his face, they said, ‘This is a blessed face.’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, pray for forgiveness for me.’ He said, ‘O Allah, forgive us!’ I said, ‘Ask forgiveness for me.’ He said, ‘O Allah, forgive us!’ I turned and said, Ask forgiveness for me.’ He said, ‘O Allah, forgive us!’ He spat on his hand and wiped it on his sandal. He did not want it to get on anyone around him.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: It shows the high moral standard of the Prophetﷺ: he was extremely careful not discomfort anyone. However, it is permissible to use the handkerchief if one finds it.

chapter 544. Gatherings on roads

1149. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade gatherings in the road. They said, “Messenger of Allah, it is hard for us to sit in our houses.” He said, “If you must sit there, then fulfil the rights of the gathering.” They asked, ‘What is their right, Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Guiding anyone who asks for directions, returning the greeting, lowering the eye, commanding the correct and forbidding the bad.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It indicates that students and subordinates may ask their teachers and superiors how to resolve a difficult matter into which they may fall due to particular instructions already given by them regarding the matters.

1150. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Beware of sitting in the road.” They said, “Messenger of Allah, we must meet where we can sit to talk.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “If you must do it, then give the road its due. “What is the due of the road, Messenger of Allah,” they asked. He replied, “Lowering the eye, avoiding doing anything harmful, commanding the correct and forbidding the bad.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 545. Someone who sits dangling his feet in a well with his legs uncovered

1151. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out one day to one of the walled gardens of Madina, and I went out after him. When he entered the garden, I sat at the gate and said, I will be the doorkeeper of the Messenger of Allah today even if he has not commanded me to do it.’ The Prophet went and answered a call of nature and then sat on the edge of the well. He uncovered his legs and dangled them in the well. Abu Bakr came and asked for permission to enter.’ I said, ‘Stay where you are until I ask permission for you.’ He waited and I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, it is Abu Bakr asking permission to come in.’ He said, ‘Let him in and give him the good news of the Garden.’ He entered and sat at the right side of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. uncovered his legs and dangled them in the water. Then ‘Umar came. I said, ‘Stay where you are until I ask permission for you.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Let him in and give him the good news of the Garden.’ ‘Umar went in and sat at the left side of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, uncovered his legs and dangled his feet in the well. The rim of the well was then full and there was no place left to sit. Then ‘Uthman came. I said, ‘Stay where you are until I ask permission for you.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Let him in and give him the good news of the Garden as well as an affliction which will befall him.’ ‘Uthman came in and could not find a place with them. He moved around until he was facing them on the other side of the well, uncovered his legs and dangled them in the well. I began to wish that a brother of mine would come and I asked Allah to make him come, but he did not come before they had got up.” Sa’id ibn al-Musayyab said, “I interpreted it as their graves. They (the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar) were buried together here, but ‘Uthman was alone.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam An-Nawawee (الله رحمه” ,(The hadeeth contains the virtues of those three, and that they are from the people of the Garden and the virtue of Aboo Moosa. It also has a clear miracle for the Prophetﷺ in his telling about the story of ‘Uthman and the tribulations. (It also includes that) the three will continue upon Eemaan (true faith) and guidance.” The point of reference is their sitting at the edge of the well, uncovering their shanks and dangling them in the well.

1152. Abu Hurayra said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out in the heat of the day. He did not speak to me nor did I speak to him until he came to the market of Qaynuqa’. He sat in the courtyard of Fatima’s house and asked, ‘Is the little one here? Is the little one here?’ Fatima held her son back for a short time. I think that she was putting a necklace on him or washing him. Then he came running and he hugged him and kissed him. He said, ‘O Allah, love him and love those who love him.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 546. When a man rises to give place for someone in a gathering, that person should not sit in it

1153. Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade anyone forcing a man to rise from his seat so that someone else could sit in his place.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The excellence of spacious gatherings may be understood from the fact that they allow the people to be relaxed and prevent grudge bearing and repugnance brought about by constricted sittings. 2. It seems the companion refused to sit in the place of the one who stood up for him since that may lead to making people leave their sits for others to sit which is prohibited by the Prophet ([r]). The religion prohibits embarrassing the people, making them stand up from their sits for others to sit, and encourages spreading out, creating space and honouring one another The religion prohibits embarrassing the people, making them stand up from their sits for others to sit, and encourages spreading out, creating space and honouring one another