Riyadh Al-Salehin | Episode (105) | Chapter on the etiquette of the council and the sitter

0:00 Riyadh al-Salihin from the words of the Master of the Messengers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

0:09 Chapter: The Etiquette of Gatherings and Companions.

0:15 On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:

0:21 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

0:25 "None of you should make a person stand up from his place and then sit in it;

0:30 rather, make space and expand [the gathering]."

0:34 Whenever a man would stand up from his place for Ibn ‘Umar, he would not sit in it.

0:41 Agreed upon.

0:44 From the benefits of the hadith:

0:46 The prohibition of making a person stand up from his place to sit in his spot.

0:52 The Sunnah is to make space.

0:54 This is based on the saying:

0:55 ﴾Make space, and Allah will make space for you.﴿

0:58 Adhering to this ritual,

1:01 makes the hearts of the people of Islam cohesive, loving, and free from discord and hatred.

1:09 Increasing affection among Muslims,

1:12 by not discriminating between them in their gatherings.

1:17 Teaching people not to stand up to seat a newcomer in a place other than where the gathering ends.

1:25 One should refine the soul by not becoming arrogant when people show respect to one.

1:31 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him:

1:36 That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

1:40 "If one of you stands up from a gathering and then returns to it,

1:44 he is more entitled to it."

1:46 Narrated by Muslim.

1:48 From the benefits of the hadith:

1:52 The owner of the seat is more entitled to his seat than anyone else.

1:56 If the owner of the seat stands up for a need and then returns,

2:01 he is more deserving of his seat than others.

2:04 If someone else sits in his place,

2:07 he has the right to make the person sitting there stand up.

2:09 The person sitting should stand up from that place without delay.

2:15 Islam’s concern for giving every person with a right their due.

2:20 Curbing the desires of the soul,

2:22 so that it does not overreach and claim what it has no right to,

2:26 which would lead to corruption on earth.

2:29 On the authority of Jabir ibn Samurah, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:

2:34 "When we would come to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

2:39 one of us would sit where the gathering ended."

2:42 Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.

2:46 From the benefits of the hadith:

2:49 An explanation of the etiquette of the gathering.

2:52 Which is to sit where the gathering ends for you.

2:55 It is not appropriate for a newcomer to stand at the head of the circle or the gathering,

3:00 waiting for someone to stand up for him,

3:03 as some tyrants and arrogant people do.

3:06 Etiquette is recommended in gatherings of knowledge.

3:10 It is permissible for one who finds a gap in the gathering

3:14 to step forward to fill the void, provided he does not cause harm.

3:18 If he fears doing so, then the duty incumbent upon him is to sit

3:22 where the gathering ends for him.

3:24 On the authority of Abu ‘Abd Allah Salman al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

3:31 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

3:35 "No man bathes on Friday,

3:38 and purifies himself as much as he is able,

3:41 and applies his oil,

3:43 or uses the perfume of his house,

3:46 then goes out and does not separate two people [sitting together],

3:49 then prays what has been decreed for him,

3:52 then remains silent when the Imam speaks,

3:55 except that he is forgiven for what is between him and the other Friday."

4:01 Narrated by al-Bukhari.

4:03 From the benefits of the hadith:

4:07 The recommendation of being thorough in cleaning, purifying, and adorning oneself on Friday.

4:13 It is from the Sunnah for a person to keep perfume for himself,

4:17 and to make its use a habit,

4:20 by storing it in the house.

4:22 The dislike of stepping over people on Friday,

4:25 except for one who finds no other way to the prayer area.

4:29 This includes the Imam,

4:31 and one who wishes to join a broken row.

4:34 If the person in front refuses to allow that,

4:36 or one who wishes to return to the spot he stood up from due to necessity.

4:41 The legitimacy of voluntary prayer before Friday [prayer].

4:46 Based on his saying, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:

4:49 "He prays what has been decreed for him."

4:51 The permissibility of voluntary prayer at midday on Friday.

4:55 Arriving early is not from the start of the sun's decline [zawal],

4:59 because the Imam’s exit follows the decline.

5:02 Thus, there is no time left to perform voluntary prayer.

5:06 The expiation of sins from Friday to Friday

5:09 is conditional upon the presence of all that was mentioned:

5:13 bathing and cleaning,

5:15 perfuming or oiling,

5:17 wearing the best clothes,

5:19 walking with tranquility,

5:21 and refraining from stepping over people or separating two individuals.

5:26 On the authority of ‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb,

5:28 from his father, from his grandfather, may Allah be pleased with him:

5:31 That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

5:35 "It is not lawful for a man to separate two people [sitting together],

5:39 except with their permission."

5:41 Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.

5:44 In a narration by Abu Dawud:

5:47 "One should not sit between two men except with their permission."

5:51 From the benefits of the hadith:

5:55 Teaching Muslims to respect each other’s feelings,

5:58 and not to cause discomfort to others.

6:02 The impermissibility of interrupting people’s conversation without permission.

6:07 The impermissibility of listening to those speaking without their permission,

6:11 for they may be speaking of something they do not wish anyone else to know.

6:18 On the authority of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him:

6:22 That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

6:26 cursed the one who sits in the middle of a circle.

6:29 Narrated by Abu Dawud.

6:31 Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Abu Mijlaz:

6:34 That a man sat in the middle of a circle,

6:37 and Hudhayfah said:

6:39 "Cursed is he on the tongue of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,"

6:44 or "Allah has cursed, on the tongue of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

6:49 the one who sits in the middle of a circle."

6:52 From the benefits of the hadith:

6:55 The prohibition of stepping over the necks of people who are sitting,

6:59 and sitting in their midst.

7:01 On the authority of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

7:07 I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saying:

7:12 "The best of gatherings are the most spacious."

7:15 Narrated by Abu Dawud.

7:18 From the benefits of the hadith:

7:21 One should avoid what leads to the crowding of a gathering,

7:25 because that generates dislike and hatred among those sitting together,

7:30 or causes the gathering to lose its fruit if it is a gathering of knowledge.

7:35 The Sunnah is to make gatherings spacious.

7:38 This contains goodness, blessing, and harmony,

7:41 because it provides comfort for those sitting.

7:46 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

7:50 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

7:54 "Whoever sits in a gathering where his idle talk is frequent,

7:58 and says before he stands up from that gathering:

8:02 'Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise,

8:05 I bear witness that there is no god but You,

8:09 I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You,'

8:12 he will be forgiven for what occurred in that gathering."

8:16 Narrated by al-Tirmidhi.

8:19 "His idle talk":

8:21 Meaning his speech that does not benefit him in his afterlife.

8:25 On the authority of Abu Barzah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

8:30 The Messenger of Allah would say at the end,

8:34 when he wanted to stand up from a gathering:

8:37 "Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise,

8:40 I bear witness that there is no god but You,

8:43 I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You."

8:46 A man said:

8:48 "O Messenger of Allah,

8:50 you are saying a statement you did not use to say in the past."

8:55 He said:

8:56 "That is an expiation for what occurs in the gathering."

9:00 Narrated by Abu Dawud.

9:03 "At the end":

9:05 Meaning at the end of his life.

9:09 From the benefits of the hadith:

9:11 An explanation of the expiation for the gathering,

9:14 and that it is said at the end, not at the beginning.

9:18 This supplication comprises three matters:

9:22 First:

9:23 Declaring Allah Almighty free from every imperfection,

9:27 and praising Him for every action.

9:30 Second:

9:31 Affirming the divinity of Allah Almighty alone, with no partner,

9:36 and that is from the perfection of worship to Allah alone,

9:40 and the perfection of praise for Him.

9:42 Third:

9:43 Returning, seeking forgiveness, and repentance to the One who possesses them,

9:47 and He is Allah Almighty.

9:50 The fruit of this praise, seeking forgiveness, and repentance

9:54 is an expiation for the one who says it.

9:57 An explanation of the gradual nature of instruction in Islamic Shari‘ah.

10:01 The Shari‘ah did not descend all at once,

10:05 but descended gradually according to the situation.

10:11 On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:

10:14 It was rare that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would stand up from a gathering

10:20 without praying with these supplications:

10:23 "O Allah, apportion for us such fear of You as will prevent us from disobeying You,

10:30 and such obedience to You as will bring us to Your Paradise,

10:34 and such certainty as will make the calamities of this world easy for us.

10:39 O Allah, let us enjoy our hearing, our sight,

10:44 and our strength as long as You keep us alive,

10:47 and make it the inheritor from us.

10:50 Let our vengeance be upon those who have wronged us,

10:54 and grant us victory over those who show us enmity.

10:57 Do not make our calamity in our religion,

11:01 and do not make this world our greatest concern,

11:04 nor the extent of our knowledge,

11:07 and do not empower over us those who will not show us mercy."

11:11 Narrated by al-Tirmidhi.

11:15 From the benefits of the hadith:

11:17 Perfect fear of Allah,

11:19 along with knowledge of His majesty, Glory be to Him.

11:22 Thus, Allah specifically distinguished the scholars with fear,

11:26 saying: ﴾Only those among His servants who have knowledge fear Allah.﴿

11:31 The more a person’s knowledge of Allah increases,

11:36 the more his fear of Him increases.

11:38 As it is authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:

11:41 "I am the most knowledgeable of you about Allah,

11:44 and the most fearful of Him."

11:47 And He, the Almighty, said regarding His angels:

11:50 “He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him.” (21:28)

11:55 An explanation that the one who prevents the servant from committing a sin

11:59 is Allah Almighty,

12:01 by placing from His fear

12:04 What stands between them and Him

12:06 is the granting of success to perform acts of obedience,

12:08 which can only come from Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.

12:12 Therefore, the servant must constantly seek His aid.

12:17 Nothing leads to Paradise except obedience.

12:22 A servant cannot endure the calamities of this world

12:25 except through certainty in the heart,

12:27 which stems from sincere faith.

12:30 It is recommended to pray for the preservation and continuity of blessings,

12:34 and to enjoy them without committing acts of disobedience.

12:38 It is permissible to pray against the disbelievers,

12:40 whether specifically or generally,

12:42 and to seek victory from Allah over them.

12:45 The greatest calamity that can befall a servant

12:48 is a calamity regarding their religion.

12:50 Whoever becomes preoccupied with worldly life,

12:53 its love settles in their heart,

12:55 becoming their primary concern,

12:57 and they forget their afterlife,

12:59 dedicating all their efforts to it.

13:01 Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, tests His servants

13:04 when they turn away from His religion

13:06 by empowering their enemies against them.

13:09 The people of faith repel their enemies

13:12 through righteous deeds and supplication.

13:14 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

13:19 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

13:23 "No group of people rises from a gathering

13:26 in which they did not remember Allah the Exalted,

13:29 but that they rise as if from the carcass of a donkey,

13:33 and it will be a source of regret for them."

13:35 Narrated by Abu Dawud.

13:37 Among the benefits of this hadith:

13:41 Through the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, gatherings are made wholesome,

13:44 and hearts find tranquility.

13:46 Every moment not occupied by obedience

13:49 will have a consequence of regret and remorse

13:52 on the Day of Resurrection.

13:54 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,

13:58 from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who said:

14:02 "No people sit in a gathering in which they do not remember Allah the Exalted,

14:07 nor do they invoke blessings upon their Prophet,

14:10 but that it will be a deficiency for them;

14:13 if He wills, He will punish them,

14:15 and if He wills, He will forgive them."

14:18 Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi.

14:20 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,

14:23 from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who said:

14:27 "Whoever sits in a place where they do not remember Allah the Exalted,

14:32 it will be a deficiency for them from Allah.

14:35 And whoever lies down in a place where they do not remember Allah the Exalted,

14:40 it will be a deficiency for them from Allah."

14:44 Narrated by Abu Dawud.

14:47 "A deficiency" (tira),

14:48 meaning a shortcoming or a burden of consequence.

14:52 Among the benefits of this hadith:

14:56 The obligation of remembering Allah the Exalted and invoking blessings upon His Messenger, peace be upon him.

15:02 Because whoever neglects this incurs a burden of consequence.

15:06 Everyone who sits in a gathering and is heedless of the remembrance of Allah

15:10 becomes deserving of punishment from Allah.

15:12 This is because those who forget the remembrance of Allah and the invocation of blessings upon His Messenger, peace be upon him,

15:19 are more likely to forget to observe the limits set by Allah the Exalted,

15:24 thus falling into the forbidden and what incurs the wrath of Allah,

15:27 and they are punished for what they have committed.

15:30 Riyad al-Salihin.

Riyadh Al-Salehin | Episode (105) | Chapter on the etiquette of the council and the sitter

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