One who is sitting in a circle of knowledge: Is it better for him to listen, or to recite tasbih, tahlil, and the remembrance of Allah?

The questioner : If, for example, a person is in a session of dhikr—like this one, which is blessed—sitting and remembering Allah, saying Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar, is that better, or should he listen and pay attention?

The Shaykh : Or what?

The questioner : Or should he listen, pay attention, and benefit from it?

The Shaykh : By Allah, we need to understand why he is sitting in this session of dhikr. Why is he doing his own dhikr instead of benefiting from knowledge?

The questioner : He is sitting to benefit from the knowledge... but he wants to benefit and remember Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Which is it?

The Shaykh : You must read His saying (Mighty and Majestic): . So, either his heart is with the knowledge, or his heart is with the dhikr. Or do you imagine that a person is listening to what the Shaykh is saying, while on the other hand he is holding the misbaha and doing this with it?! This is not the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); this is heedlessness. Moreover, even if he is occupied in this way, he cannot understand the admonition being delivered to him. Therefore, the answer is that he should suffice with this dhikr, which is the knowledge you referred to. As for the other dhikr, that is for another gathering, either individually or in a group. This is as Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say to some of his companions: "Sit with us."