Authentic Hadith pertaining to COURTESY THE VALUE OF SOCIALIZING WITH PEOPLE AND ATTENDING CONGREGATIONS Extracted from Imam Nawawi’s Reference “The Gardens of Righteousness” translated and presented by Shaykh Ahmad Darwish, Anne (Khadeijah) Stephens Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com ©1984-2012 Darwish Family. All rights reserved BOOK 58 NOTES Imam Nawawi said: "Be aware that socializing with people in the way I mentioned is the chosen behavior of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and all the Prophets, the guided Caliphs, those Companions who came after them, their companions, knowledgeable Muslims and the elite. It is also the doctrine of most of the third generation with which Imams Shaf'i, Ahmad and most jurists, may Allah be pleased with them, inclined." Attending the Eid Festivals, and the Circles of the Remembrance of Allah, visiting the sick, attending funerals, and sympathizing with the needy; guiding the ignorant and serving them etc., is to be practiced by those who are capable, honoring the good and prohibiting evil, so long as they stop themselves from harming others and are patient when they are harmed. HUMILITY Allah, the Exalted says: “And lower your wing to the believers who follow you.” 26:215 Koran “Believers, whosoever of you turns from his religion, Allah will bring a nation whom He loves and they love Him, humble towards the believers and stern towards the unbelievers......” 5:54 Koran “People, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you might know one another. The noblest of you before Allah is the most righteous of you......” 49:13 Koran “..... Do not praise yourself. Allah knows the cautious.” 53:32 Koran “And the Companions of the ramparts call to men whose marks they recognize: ‘Neither your amassing nor your pride have availed you. Are these whom you swore that Allah would never have mercy upon them? (To them it will be said:) ‘Enter Paradise. You have nothing to fear ‘neither will you be saddened.’ 7:48-49 Koran “... and cooperate in righteousness and warding off (evil).” 5:2 Koran There are many other well known verses that convey this meaning. BE COURTEOUS TO ONE ANOTHER |H 606 “Allah, the Most Exalted has sent down to me that you should be courteous to one another and no one should consider themselves superior to another nor should they harm him.” Muslim with a chain up to Iyaz, the son of Himar who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES |H 607 “Wealth is not decreased by giving charity. Allah increases the honor of one who forgives, and the one who humbles himself for the sake of Allah so much that He raises them in rank.” Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. GREET THE CHILDREN |H 608 “Anas passed by some children and greeted them with peace and said, ‘The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, used to do the same.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Anas. THE PROPHET'S KINDNESS TO A YOUNG GIRL |H 609 “A young girl from Medina would take hold of the hand of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and take him where she wished.” Bukhari with a chain up to Anas who related this. THE PROPHET AND HOUSEWORK |H 610 “Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked, ‘What did the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, do at home?’ She replied, ‘He would help members of his family, and when the time of prayer came he would leave for prayer.’" Bukhari with a chain up to Aswad, the son of Yazid who related that the Mother of Believers, Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked this. THE CAMEL OF THE PROPHET |H 615 “The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, had a she-camel called Adhba' who was very fast, and would not allow another camel to overtake her. A desert Arab came riding his young camel which was faster than her. This saddened the Muslims. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, perceiving it and said, ‘It is the way of Allah, He lowers whatever raises itself in the world.’" Bukhari with a chain up to Anas who related this hadith. THE PROPHET TOOK TIME TO EXPLAIN THINGS |H 611 “Tamin presented himself before the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, while he was delivering a sermon and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, this stranger has come inquiring about his faith. He knows nothing about it.’ Thereupon the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, interrupted his sermon and went with Tamin. A chair was brought for him and he sat down and started to instruct Tamin in what Allah had taught him. After, he returned to his sermon and completed it.” Muslim with a chain up to Tamim, the son of Usaid who related this hadith. SHEPHERDING OF THE PROPHETS |H 613 “All the Prophets of Allah shepherded sheep. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was asked. ‘You also?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I shepherded them for the people of Mecca for a little money.’" Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. DO NOT THROW FOOD AWAY |H 612 “When the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, finished eating his meal he would lick three fingers. He said, ’If food should fall from the hand of any of you he should remove the dirty portion and eat the rest, and not leave it for satan. You should wipe the plate you eat from, because you do not know which part of your food is blessed.’" Muslim with a chain up to Anas who related this hadith. ACCEPTING INVITATIONS AND GIFTS |H 614 “I would accept an invitation for a meal even if the food was a shoulder or shank of lamb, and I would accept a gift even if it was no more than the same.” Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. ETIQUETTE OF SOCIAL GATHERINGS REMEMBER ALLAH WHEN YOU ARE IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS |H 828 “When a person sits down in a group in which there is no remembrance of Allah, he incurs loss and displeasure from Allah; also, when a person lies down and does not remember Allah, he incurs loss and displeasure from Allah.” Abu Daud with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. SITTING WITH OTHERS ENTERING WITHOUT THE GREETING OF PEACE |H 886 “Kildah visited the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and entered without greeting. Whereupon the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: ‘Go back and say: Peace be on you, may I enter.'" Abu Daud and Tirmidhi with a chain up to Kildah, the son of Hanbal who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. MOVE UP BUT DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR SEAT |H 834 “No one should ask another to give up his seat for him; however the seated should move up to make room.” If a person gave up his seat for ibn Omar he would not take it. Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Omar who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. LEAVING YOUR SEAT |H 835 “When someone gets up and leaves his companions and then returns he is entitled to occupy the seat he left.” Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. SITTING AT THE BACK |H 836 “When we came to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, we sat down at the back of the gathering.” Abu Daud with a chain up to Jabir, the son of Samurah who related this. ASK PERMISSION BEFORE SITTING BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE |H 838 “It is not permissible for a person to position himself between two people without their consent.” Abu Daud and Tirmidhi with a chain up to Amr, the son of Shuaib who related on the authority of his father and grandfather that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. PERMISSION TO SIT |H 839 “No one should sit between two persons without their permission.” Abu Daud related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. THE FRIDAY PRAYER |H 837 “When a person takes a bath on Friday, cleanses himself and clothes, oils his hair, uses such perfume as is available and then sets off for the mosque, does not force himself between two people (sitting there), prays the obligatory prayer and listens when the imam speaks, the sins he committed since the previous Friday are forgiven.” Bukhari with a chain up to Salman Farisi who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF CIRCLE |H 840 “The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, cursed the person who sat in the middle of a circle.” Abu Daud with a chain up to Huzaifah, the son of Yaman who related this. MIDDLE OF THE CIRCLE |H 841 “Someone sat in the middle of a circle, whereupon Huzaifah said, ‘Cursed is he according to Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, or Allah has cursed through Muhammad the person who sits in the middle of a circle.’" Tirmidhi with a chain up to Mijla said this. BEST COMPANY |H 842 “The best companies are those in which there is plenty of room.” Abu Daud with a chain up to Abu Sa'id Khudri who related that he heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, say this. VAIN TALK |H 843 “If a person sits with others in which there is vain talk and before leaving supplicates: ‘Exalted are You O Allah, and Yours is the praise: I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except You; I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You.’ He is forgiven for his participation in that gathering.” Tirmidhi with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Holy Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. SUPPLICATION UPON LEAVING A GATHERING |H 844 “Towards the end of the life of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, as he was about to leave a gathering would supplicate, ‘Exalted are You, O Allah, and Yours is the praise. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except You. I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You.’ A Companion inquired, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, you have started to say something that you did not say before.’ He replied, ‘These are words of expiation for what goes on in the gathering.’" Abu Daud and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Barzah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. SUPPLICATION BEFORE LEAVING A GATHERING |H 845 “It was seldom that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, would leave a gathering without supplicating: ‘O Allah, bestow upon us of Your fear that should serve as a barrier between us and our sins, and bestow upon us Your obedience that will help us to reach Your Paradise, and grant increase in faith so that we are able to face the misfortunes of this world easily. O Allah, bless us to receive benefit from our faculties of hearing and seeing and vigor as long as You give us life and make us the heirs of them; and afflict with our rancor those who oppress us, and help us against those who are our enemies, and do not entangle us in the difficulties of our Religion; and do not make the world our preoccupation, or the ultimate limit of our knowledge, and do not appoint people over us who will not show mercy to us.’" Tirmidhi with a chain up to ibn Omar who related the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. REMEMBER ALLAH WHEN YOU ARE IN A CROWD |H 846 “Those who leave a gathering in which there has been no remembrance of Allah, leave it like the corpse of a donkey, and suffer remorse.” Abu Daud with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. EXALT ALLAH AND SUPPLICATE FOR THE PROPHET, praise and peace be upon him |H 847 “A gathering in which there is no mention of Allah, the Exalted, and no supplication for the blessings on their Prophet will be afflicted with remorse. If Allah wills He might punish them and if He wills He might forgive them.” Tirmidhi with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. DISPLEASURE OF ALLAH |H 848 “When a person sits down in a group in which there is no remembrance of Allah, he incurs loss and displeasure from Allah; also, when a person lies down and does not remember Allah, he incurs loss and displeasure from Allah.” Abu Daud with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. INDEX COURTESY THE VALUE OF SOCIALIZING WITH PEOPLE AND ATTENDING CONGREGATIONS BOOK 58 NOTES HUMILITY KORAN BE COURTEOUS TO ONE ANOTHER THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES GREET THE CHILDREN THE PROPHET'S KINDNESS TO A YOUNG GIRL THE PROPHET AND HOUSEWORK THE CAMEL OF THE PROPHET THE PROPHET TOOK TIME TO EXPLAIN THINGS SHEPHERDING OF THE PROPHETS DO NOT THROW FOOD AWAY ACCEPTING INVITATIONS AND GIFTS ETIQUETTE OF SOCIAL GATHERINGS REMEMBER ALLAH WHEN YOU ARE IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS SITTING WITH OTHERS ENTERING WITHOUT THE GREETING OF PEACE MOVE UP BUT DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR SEAT LEAVING YOUR SEAT SITTING AT THE BACK ASK PERMISSION BEFORE SITTING BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE PERMISSION TO SIT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF CIRCLE MIDDLE OF THE CIRCLE BEST COMPANY VAIN TALK SUPPLICATION UPON LEAVING A GATHERING SUPPLICATION BEFORE LEAVING A GATHERING REMEMBER ALLAH WHEN YOU ARE IN A CROWD EXALT ALLAH AND SUPPLICATE FOR THE PROPHET, praise and peace be upon him DISPLEASURE OF ALLAH