Gatherings

'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Abi 'Amra al-Ansari related to him, "Abu Sa'idal-Khudri was told of a funeral." He continued, "It seemed that he washanging back until people had taken their seats. Then he came. When thepeople saw him, they quickly made room for him. One of them stood up forhim to let him sit in his place. He said, 'Don't. I heard the Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "The best gatheringis the most expansive one." 'Then he went to the side and sat in an expansivegathering."

Munqidh said, "In most of the gatherings of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar,he would face qibla. Once Yazid ibn 'Abdullah ibn Fusayt recited Sajdaafter sunrise. He prostrated and the people there prostrated with the exceptionof 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar. When the sun rose, 'Abdullah uncurled his legsand then prostrated. He said, 'Did you see the prostration of your companions?They prostrated at a time when the prayer should not be done."

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, said, "When one of you gets up from his place and thenreturns to it, he is more entitled to."

Anas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, came to us when we were children. He greeted us and sent meto get something he needed. He sat in the road waiting for me until I cameback to him."

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, said, "None of you should make a man rise from his seat andthen sit in it. Rather make room and spread out."

Jabir ibn Samura said, "When we came to the Prophet, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, we would sit at the edge of the group."

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, said, "It is not lawful for a man to separatetwo people except with the permission of both of them."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "When 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, wasattacked, I was one of those who carried him into his house. He said tome, 'Nephew, go see who wounded me and who was wounded with me.' I wentand returned to tell him, but the room was full at that time. I did notwant 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 himnot to tell about it. 'Umar had a cover over him. Ka'b came and said, 'ByAllah, if the Amir al-Mu'minin makes supplication, Allah will let him remainalive and restore him to this community until he does such-and-such andsuch-and-such for them' until Ka'b mentioned the hypocrites. He actuallynamed them and used their kunyas. I said, 'Shall I convey to him what youhave 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 untilI 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 woundedwhile he was doing wudu' from the cistern. Ka'b swore such-and-such byAllah.' He said, 'Summon Ka'b.' He was summoned and 'Umar asked, 'Whatdid 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 notforgive him.'"

Ash-Sha'bi said, "A man came to 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr when therewere some people sitting with him. He stepped over them in order to reachhim. They stopped him and 'Abdullah said, 'Leave the man.' He approacheduntil he sat with him and then said, 'Tell me something which you heardfrom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.''Abdullah said, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, say, "A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand theMuslims are safe. An emigrant (muhajir) is someone who abandons what Allahhas forbidden."'"

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The most precious of people in my opinion ismy sitting companion."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The most precious of people in my opinion ismy sitting companion. This is so much the case that he can step over theshoulders of people until he sits with me."

Kathir ibn Murra related, "I entered the mosque on Friday andfound 'Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i sitting in a circle of men. He stretchedout 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 righteousman might come and sit down.'"

Al-Harith ibn 'Amr as-Sahmi related, "I came to the Prophet, mayAllah 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 hisface, 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, 'Askforgiveness 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 hishand and wiped it on his sandal. He did not want it to get on anyone aroundhim."

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, forbade gatherings in the road. They said, "Messengerof Allah, it is hard for us to sit in our houses." He said, "If you mustsit there, then fulfil the rights of the gathering." They asked, 'Whatis their right, Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "Guiding anyone who asksfor directions, returning the greeting, lowering the eye, commanding thecorrect and forbidding the bad."

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, may Allah blesshim 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 Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If you must doit, then give the road its due. "What is the due of the road, Messengerof Allah," they asked. He replied, "Lowering the eye, avoiding doing anythingharmful, commanding the correct and forbidding the bad."

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, went out one day to one of the walled gardensof Madina, and I went out after him. When he entered the garden, I satat the gate and said, I will be the doorkeeper of the Messenger of Allahtoday even if he has not commanded me to do it.' The Prophet went and answereda call of nature and then sat on the edge of the well. He uncovered hislegs and dangled them in the well. Abu Bakr came and asked for permissionto 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 himpeace, and said, 'Messenger of Allah, it is Abu Bakr asking permissionto 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 himand 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 foryou.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Lethim in and give him the good news of the Garden.' 'Umar went in and satat 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 wellwas then full and there was no place left to sit. Then 'Uthman came. Isaid, '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 himthe good news of the Garden as well as an affliction which will befallhim.' 'Uthman came in and could not find a place with them. He moved arounduntil he was facing them on the other side of the well, uncovered his legsand dangled them in the well. I began to wish that a brother of mine wouldcome and I asked Allah to make him come, but he did not come before theyhad got up."

Abu Hurayra said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, went out in the heat of the day. He did not speak to me nordid I speak to him until he came to the market of Qaynuqa'. He sat in thecourtyard of Fatima's house and asked, 'Is the little one here? Is thelittle one here?' Fatima held her son back for a short time. I think thatshe was putting a necklace on him or washing him. Then he came runningand he hugged him and kissed him. He said, 'O Allah, love him and lovethose who love him.'"

Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, forbade anyone forcing a man to rise from his seat so that someoneelse could sit in his place."