The etiquette of attending the Assemblies of Knowledge (Part 2)

 Compiled by Umm Umamah Al-Athariyah

3) The Student of Knowledge should refrain from excessive talking and laughing in the assemblies of knowledge 

These assemblies are encircled by angels who are taking the names of those who are attending. Those angels mention the names to Allaah, and Allaah mentions their names to those who are present with Him in the Highest Dwellings. Therefore, the student of knowledge should sit in a dignified and tranquil manner, as was the behavior of our righteous predecessors.

Usamah ibn Shareeq رضي الله عنه narrated: “We sat with the Prophet ﷺ as if there were birds perched on our heads. None of us would speak. [While we were in that state] a group of people came and said, ‘Who are the most beloved servants to Allaah?’ He ﷺ said, ‘Those who are best in conduct.‘”[Saheeh At-Targheeb and graded Saheeh by Al-Albaani]

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the companion of Imam Abu Hanifa, once entered the assembly of Imam Maalik.  He said: “I entered the assembly of Imam Maalik and I saw his students sitting in front of him as if there were birds perched on their heads. I said, “As-Salaam Alaikum.” None of them replied except Imam Maalik. I said, “What is the matter with you, are you in prayer?” They stared at me with the sides of their eyes and did not talk.”This is how they venerated and honored these gatherings of knowledge. 

The etiquette of attending the Assemblies of Knowledge (Part 1)

Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said that the good manners of a person indicate his success and happiness, and his impoliteness indicates his wretchedness and ruin. There is nothing like good manners in attaining the good of this world and the Hereafter, and there is nothing like bad manners in causing deprivation of the good in this world and the Hereafter. [Madaarij As-Salikeen 2/391]

The Scholars of the past and present emphasized the matter of manners in their books and assemblies. This is because the gatherings of knowledge are where the student of knowledge begins to learn.

The Salaf used to respect and venerate the gatherings of knowledge because they knew its status with Allaah. There are many narrations from the Prophet ﷺ which emphasize the importance of the gatherings of knowledge. For example, he ﷺ said:

مَا جَلَسَ قَوْمٌ مَجْلِسًا, يَذْكُرُونَ اَللَّهَ إِلَّا حَفَّتْ بِهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ, وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ, وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ 

“People will not sit in an assembly in which they remember Allaah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, and Allaah mentioning them among those who are with Him.” [Muslim]