Indeed, Allah has angels who go about on the earth in addition to the Kuttab of people. So when they find groups of people remembering Allah, they call to one another: ‘Come to that which you have been seeking.’ They will come and cover them up to the lowest heaven.
Allah will say: ‘What were My worshippers doing when you left them?’ They will say: ‘We left them as they were praising You, glorifying You, and remembering You.’”
He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘And what do they seek?’” He ﷺ said: “They will say: ‘They seek Paradise.’” He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘So have they seen it?’” He ﷺ said: “So they will say: ‘No.’” He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘So how would it be had they seen it?’” He ﷺ said: “They will say: ‘Had they seen it, they would be more ardent in seeking it, and more eager for it.’”
He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘So from what thing do they seek refuge?’ They will say: ‘They seek refuge from the Fire.’” He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘And have they seen it?’ So they will say: ‘No.’” He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘So how would it be had they seen it?’ So they will say: ‘Had they seen it, they would be more ardent in fear of it, and more ardent in seeking refuge from it.’”
He ﷺ said: “So He will say: ‘So I do call You to witness that I have forgiven them.’
So they will say: ‘Indeed among them is so-and-so, a sinner, he did not intend them, he only came to them for some need
So He will say: ‘They are the people, that none who sits with them shall be miserable.’” [Jami' At-Tirmithi #3600]
If your sins are forgiven, you will go home happy, even if your problem still exists.
3) Choose Good Companions to sit with
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ
A man follows the religion of his friend; so each one should consider whom he makes his friend. [Sunan Abi Dawud #4833]
Find out and look for good companions to sit with. And he ﷺ warned us against accompanying bad people, because they will have an effect on us and our faith. The Prophet ﷺ set forth an example of a good companion and a bad one:
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيرِ فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْذِيَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُ رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً وَنَافِخُ الْكِيرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً
The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one (iron-smith) blowing bellows. The owner of musk would either offer it to you free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you would smell its pleasant odour. As far as the one who blows the bellows is concerned, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell. [Muslim #2628]
The Salaf (Predecessors) would say, "Be careful from sitting with two kinds of people: People of Innovation and People of Disobedience"
Al-Hasan Al-Basri رحمه الله said, "Do not sit with the people of innovation and desires, nor argue with them, nor listen to them" [Sunan Ad-Daarimee 1/121]
When you sit with the People of Innovation, they will either make you indulge with them in their Bid'ah, or their will raise doubts in you. It is better to be on the safe side and not accompany them.
Abu Kilaba رحمه الله said, "Do not sit with them, do not associate with them, because I do not feel security from them"
Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyad رحمه الله said, "Allah has angels who seek circles of remembrance of Allah, so look at whom you are sitting with. Do not let your assembly be with the people of innovation, because Allah will not look with you. And one of the signs of hypocrisy is to sit with the people of Bid'ah"
What about if the people you are sitting with are disobedient to Allah? They will make you indulge in backbiting, gossiping, slandering others, etc. They will be a cause of regret for the person sitting with them.
How many people, whom after Allah guided them, relapsed after sitting with people of disobedience or innovation?
4) Saying السلام عليكم when you enter and leave assemblies
Many people say it when they enter, but not when they leave. The Prophet ﷺ said,
"إذا انتهى أحدكم إلى المجلس فليسلم، فإذا أراد أن يقوم فليسلم، فليست الأولى بأحق من الآخرة"
"When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should offer Salam to those who are already there, and he should also do so when he intends to depart. The first act of greeting is not more meritorious than the last.'' [Abu Dawud].
5) The dislikeness of making a person get up from his place in order for you to sit
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الرَّجُلُ أَحَقُّ بِمَجْلِسِهِ وَإِنْ خَرَجَ لِحَاجَتِهِ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِمَجْلِسِهِ
A man has more right to his seat. If he leaves for some need of his, then he returns, then he has more right to his seat. [Jami' At-Tirmithi]
If someone tells you to get up, they have transgressed against you.
If a person gets up for another person, the Scholars say they have given up their right for that person, and it is fine. However, once Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه entered an assembly where someone got up for him willingly. He sat in another place, and the man questioned him as to why he did that. He said, "The Prophet ﷺ forbade that a man should be made to get up for his place, rather, one should make room and spread out"
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ فَذَهَبَ لِيَجْلِسَ فِيهِ فَنَهَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ, another man got up from his place for him, and when he went to sit in it, the Prophet ﷺ forbade him. [Sunan Abi a Dawud #4828]
The Scholars explained why: Perhaps the man got up out of shyness, or Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه disliked it because preferring someone else regarding something superior (with regards to worship) is disliked.
E.g. You only have 1000 dirhams to go for Umrah. You either go, or your mother goes with that money. The Scholars said that you should go, because it is an act of nearness to Allah. You should prefer yourself over others in performance of acts of worship. (إيثار القربة).
E.g. A son and his father went to the Masjid. The son went first and managed to make it to the first row. The father came late. The son should not give his position to his father, because the first row is more superior than the second and third row, and he has more right to that spot. He should prefer himself because it is an act of worship.
Do not give your position, spread out and make space for the person,
Q. What about those who reserve their place in the Masjid by putting prayer mats or asking their friends to keep it for them?
Ibn Taymiyah رحمه الله said that this is strictly forbidden (محرم) with the consensus of the Scholars because in the Masjid especially, the first row should be completed, then the second, then the third. When the prayer begins, gaps will be left in the rows, and this is against the Shari'ah. In addition to that, the person will be jumping over others in order to reach his place.
To reserve a place is a Munkar. The Prophet ﷺ said,
مَنْ رَأَى مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ
Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart- and that is the weakest of Faith. [An-Nasaa'i #5008]
You have the right to remove that prayer mat and sit in that place. You should prefer yourself. A man would get more reward praying in the first row than in a row behind.
But, if you think that your action will lead to a bigger problem, then it is better to refrain. They will be sinful.
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