The Shaykh’s reminder of some of the etiquettes of the gathering, mentioning some hadiths indicating this.
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The Shaykh : I want to remind you of some of them, especially those related to the etiquette I mentioned earlier, which is the etiquette of the scholarly gathering.
Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad from the hadith of Abu Thalhah al-Khushani (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “When we used to travel with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and we would stop at a place, we would disperse into the valleys and gorges. One time we traveled with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and stopped at a place, and we dispersed in it as we always used to. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: Abu Thalhah said: “So after that, whenever we traveled with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we would gather and join together, so that if we sat on a single carpet, it would have been enough for us.” In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized gathering the Muslims together in their bodies and persons, and warned them against dispersing, even while traveling in the valleys and gorges. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) responded to this guidance, so after that they did not disperse as they had before, and they would stick together, so that despite their large number, if they sat on a single carpet, it would have been enough for them.
This dispersal, which only occurred during travel, was not approved by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he forbade them from it. So what is the case when the scholars and students of knowledge disperse in their scholarly gatherings? There is no doubt that this dispersal is from the work of Satan, and even more so. Therefore, we remind you, considering that a good portion of you is expected to be among those responsible for guiding the Ummah and teaching them the Book and the Sunnah. This is part of the Sunnah that they should begin by reminding people of, which is to gather them in one gathering and not let them be scattered like this, with some far from others.
This hadith is supported in its content, which encourages gathering people in the gathering and forbids their dispersal therein, by another hadith narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the mosque and found them dispersed in it, so he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them:Sunan Abi Dawud 4823Sahih (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 4823Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning dispersed. So from this hadith, we understand that dispersal in the mosque is also, indeed even more so, not prescribed. Rather, they should gather together and be concerned with listening to knowledge and good admonition.
The prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of this dispersal is connected to that principle we mentioned, that Islam cares for rectifying the outward appearance just as it cares for rectifying the inward, because each is closely connected to the other, with no severance or separation between them.
Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad from the hadith of Abu Thalhah al-Khushani (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “When we used to travel with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and we would stop at a place, we would disperse into the valleys and gorges. One time we traveled with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and stopped at a place, and we dispersed in it as we always used to. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them:
Indeed, your scattering in these valleys and ravines is of the work of Satan
إنما تفرقكم هذا في الوديان والشعاب من عمل الشيطانIndeed, your scattering in these valleys and ravines is of the work of Satan
إنما تفرقكم هذا في الوديان والشعاب من عمل الشيطانThis dispersal, which only occurred during travel, was not approved by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he forbade them from it. So what is the case when the scholars and students of knowledge disperse in their scholarly gatherings? There is no doubt that this dispersal is from the work of Satan, and even more so. Therefore, we remind you, considering that a good portion of you is expected to be among those responsible for guiding the Ummah and teaching them the Book and the Sunnah. This is part of the Sunnah that they should begin by reminding people of, which is to gather them in one gathering and not let them be scattered like this, with some far from others.
This hadith is supported in its content, which encourages gathering people in the gathering and forbids their dispersal therein, by another hadith narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the mosque and found them dispersed in it, so he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them:
How is it that I see you in separate groups?
ما لي أراكم عزينHow is it that I see you in separate groups?
ما لي أراكم عزينThe prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of this dispersal is connected to that principle we mentioned, that Islam cares for rectifying the outward appearance just as it cares for rectifying the inward, because each is closely connected to the other, with no severance or separation between them.