Islamic Etiquette for Gatherings: Importance of Making Space

Understanding Good Manners in Assemblies According to Islamic Teachings

MANNERS FOR ASSEMBLIES

ALLĀH teaches HIS servants good manners and orders them to be kind to each other when they are sitting together,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُواْ فِى الْمَجَـلِسِ فَافْسَحُواْ يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ
O you who have believed, when you are told; Space yourselves in assemblies, then make space; ALLĀH will make space for you.

Indeed, the reward or recompense depends on the type of action. In a Hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever builds a Masjid for Allah, ALLĀH builds for him a house in Paradise.”

In another Hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “He who relieves a difficulty for a person living in straitened circumstances, then ALLĀH will relieve the difficulties of this life and the Hereafter for him. Surely, ALLĀH helps the servant as long as the servant helps his brother.”

There are many similar Hadiths. This is why ALLĀH the Exalted said,

فَافْسَحُواْ يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ
then make space; ALLĀH will make space for you.

Qatadah said, “This Ayah was revealed about gatherings in places where ALLĀH is being remembered. When someone would come to join in assemblies with the Messenger (ﷺ) , they would hesitate to offer them space so that they would not loose their places. ALLĀH the Exalted commanded them to spread out and make room for each other.”

Imam Ahmad and Imam Ash-Shafi`i recorded that ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umar (may ALLĀH be pleased with them) said that the Messenger of ALLĀH ﷺ said: “One of you should not remove someone from his place and sit in it, but instead, spread out and make room.”

This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A man should not remove another man from his place and then sit in it. Rather spread out and make room and ALLĀH will make room for you.”

Imam Ahmad also recorded this Hadith with the wording: “A man should not leave his place for another man, but rather spread out and make room, and ALLĀH will make room for you.”

{Tafsi‌r Ibn Kathīr}