Imam Ali^-asws says: It is pleasure and hatred which gather the people, and the she-camel of Samood was hamstrung by one man, but Allah^-azwj Punished them as they agreed with the killer of the she-camel.

How people are assembled:

نهج: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: أيها الناس إنما يجمع الناس الرضى والسخط وإنما عقر ناقة ثمود رجل واحد فعمهم الله بالعذاب لما عموه بالرضى، فقال سبحانه: ” فعقروها فأصبحوا نادمين ” فما كان إلا أن خارت أرضهم بالخسفة خوار السكة المحماة في الأرض الخوارة.

Nahj (Al Balagah) –

‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘O you people! But rather it is the pleasure and hatred which gathers the people, and rather the she-camel of Samood was hamstrung by one man, but Allah^-azwj Generalised them with the Punishment due to their generally agreeing with him. The Glorious Said: But they hamstrung her, then they became regretful [26:157]. So, it wasn’t except that their land was ploughed with the submerging like the spike of the plough ploughs in the earth with a ploughing’’.[1]

Never sit with those who are disobeying or insulting Guardians of Allah^-azwj

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي زِيَادٍ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ مَجْلِساً يُعْصَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى تَغْيِيرِهِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Abu Ziyad Al Nahdy, from Abdullah Bin Salih, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘It is not befitting for the Momin that he sits in a gathering wherein Allah^-azwj is being disobeyed, and he is not able upon altering it’.[2]

Also, in a similar Hadith;

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) قَالَ مَنْ قَعَدَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ يُسَبُّ فِيهِ إِمَامٌ مِنَ الْأَئِمَّةِ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الِانْتِصَافِ فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الذُّلَّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ عَذَّبَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَ سَلَبَهُ صَالِحَ مَا مَنَّ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مَعْرِفَتِنَا.

Muhammad Bin Saeed, from Al-Qasim Bin Urwat, from Ubeyd Bin Zurara, from his father, who has narrated:

Abu Ja’far^-asws has said; ‘The one who sits in a gathering in which an Imam^-asws from the Imams^-asws is insulted, and he has the ability to remedy that and he does not do so, Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic would Clothe him in disgrace in the world and Punish him in the Hereafter, and would Confiscate the benefit which he has from our^-asws understanding (Ma’rifat)’.[3]

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ قَعَدَ عِنْدَ سَبَّابٍ لِأَوْلِيَاءِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ تَعَالَى .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad in Abdul Jabbark, from Safwan, from Abdul Rahman Bin Al Hajjaj, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘The one who sits in the presence of the insulters of the Guardians^‑asws of Allah^-azwj, so he has disobeyed Allah^-azwj the Exalted’.[4]

سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَطَّابِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ لَقِيَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) فِي طَرِيقِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ مَنْ ذَا أَ حَارِثٌ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَمَا لَأَحْمِلَنَّ ذُنُوبَ سُفَهَائِكُمْ عَلَى عُلَمَائِكُمْ ثُمَّ مَضَى فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلْتُ فَقُلْتُ لَقِيتَنِي فَقُلْتَ لَأَحْمِلَنَّ ذُنُوبَ سُفَهَائِكُمْ عَلَى عُلَمَائِكُمْ فَدَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ مَا يَمْنَعُكُمْ إِذَا بَلَغَكُمْ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُونَ وَ مَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ الْأَذَى أَنْ تَأْتُوهُ فَتُؤَنِّبُوهُ وَ تَعْذِلُوهُ وَ تَقُولُوا لَهُ قَوْلًا بَلِيغاً فَقُلْتُ [لَهُ] جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِذاً لَا يُطِيعُونَا وَ لَا يَقْبَلُونَ مِنَّا فَقَالَ اهْجُرُوهُمْ وَ اجْتَنِبُوا مَجَالِسَهُمْ.

Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Khataab Bin Muhammad, from Al-Haris Bin Al-Mugheira, who has narrated the following:

Abu Abdullah^-asws met me in a road of Al-Medina, so he^-asws said: ‘Who is that? Is it Haaris?’ I said, ‘Yes’. He^-asws said: ‘But I^-asws shall dump the sins of your foolish ones upon your knowledgeable ones’. Then he^-asws passed by. So I came up to him^-asws and sought permission to see him^-asws. I said, ‘You^-asws met me and you^-asws said, ‘I^-asws shall dump the sins of your foolish ones upon your knowledgeable ones’, and that was a great matter upon me’. So he^-asws said: ‘Yes. What prevented you when it reached you from the man among you what you dislike, as it enters hurtful feelings to us^-asws, (you should) go to him and reproach him, and correct it (his wrong doings), and speak to him in eloquent words?’ I said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws, if he does not obey us and does not accept from us?’ So he^-asws said: ‘Flee from him, and avoid their gatherings’ (stop accompanying him).[5]

Advice of Luqman^-as to his son regarding sitting in a gathering:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ اخْتَرِ الْمَجَالِسَ عَلَى عَيْنِكَ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ قَوْماً يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ فَاجْلِسْ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنْ تَكُنْ عَالِماً نَفَعَكَ عِلْمُكَ وَ إِنْ تَكُنْ جَاهِلًا عَلَّمُوكَ وَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُمْ بِرَحْمَتِهِ فَيَعُمَّكَ مَعَهُمْ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Yunus, raising it, said,

‘Luqman^-as said to his^-as son: ‘O my^-as son! Choose the gathering upon its exactness. So, if you see a group mentioning Allah^-azwj Majestic and Mighty, so sit with them. So, if you happen to be knowledgeable, your knowledge would benefit you, and if you happen to be ignorant, they will teach you, and perhaps if Allah^-azwj were to Shade them with His^-azwj Mercy, so He^-azwj would Cover you along with them.

وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ قَوْماً لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ فَلَا تَجْلِسْ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنْ تَكُنْ عَالِماً لَمْ يَنْفَعْكَ عِلْمُكَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ جَاهِلًا يَزِيدُوكَ جَهْلًا وَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُمْ بِعُقُوبَةٍ فَيَعُمَّكَ مَعَهُمْ .

And when you see a group who are not mentioning Allah^-azwj, so do not sit with them, for if you happen to be knowledgeable, your knowledge would not benefit you, and if you happen to be ignorant, it would increase your ignorance, and perhaps if Allah^-azwj was to Shade/Inflect them with His^-azwj Punishment, so He^-azwj would Cover you along with them’.^[6]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مُحَادَثَةُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْمَزَابِلِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُحَادَثَةِ الْجَاهِلِ عَلَى الزَّرَابِيِّ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, altogether from Ibn Mahboub, from Dorost Bin Abu Mansour, from Ibrahim Bin Abdul Hameed, from;

It is reported from Abu Al-Hassan Musa^-asws Bin Ja’far^-asws: ‘A discussion of the scholar upon the rubbish dump is better than a discussion of the ignorant upon the carpets/cushions’.^[7]

Sit with those who remind and do Zikr of Allah^-azwj:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَالَتِ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ لِعِيسَى يَا رُوحَ اللَّهِ مَنْ نُجَالِسُ قَالَ مَنْ يُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ رُؤْيَتُهُ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي عِلْمِكُمْ مَنْطِقُهُ وَ يُرَغِّبُكُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَمَلُهُ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Barqy, from Shreef Bin Sabiq, from Al Fazl Bin Abu Qurrat, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has narrated that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The disciples said to Isa^-as, ‘O Spirit of Allah^-azwj! Whom should we sit with (in a gathering)?’ He^-as said: ‘The one whose reports remind you of Allah^-azwj, and his speaking increases in your knowledge, and his deeds make you desirous regarding the Hereafter’’.^[8]

حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ وُهَيْبِ بْنِ حَفْصٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَا اجْتَمَعَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ قَوْمٌ لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرُونَا إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْلِسُ حَسْرَةً عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

Humeyd Bin Ziyad, from Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Bin Sama’at, from Wuheyb Bin Hafs, from Abu Baseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘No group will gather in a gathering not mentioning Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and not mentioning us^-asws except that gathering would be a regret upon them on the Day of Judgment’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) إِنَّ ذِكْرَنَا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ ذِكْرِ عَدُوِّنَا مِنْ ذِكْرِ الشَّيْطَانِ.

Then he (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘Our^-asws mention is from the Mention of Allah^‑azwj, and the mention of our^-asws enemies is from the mention of Satan^-la’.[9]

وَ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ‏ يَا بُنَيَّ صَاحِبِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَ اقْرَبْ مِنْهُمْ وَ جَالِسْهُمْ وَ زُرْهُمْ فِي بُيُوتِهِمْ فَلَعَلَّكَ تُشْبِهُهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مَعَهُمْ

And Luqman^-as said to his^-as son: ‘O my^-as son! Accompany the scholar and draw closer to them, and sit with them, and visit them in their houses, perhaps you will resemble them, so you will become with them.

وَ اجْلِسْ مَعَ صُلَحَائِهِمْ فَرُبَّمَا أَصَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ فَتَدْخُلُ فِيهَا فَيُصِيبُكَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَالِحاً فَابْعُدْ مِنَ الْأَشْرَارِ وَ السُّفَهَاءِ فَرُبَّمَا أَصَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ فَيُصِيبُكَ مَعَهُمْ

And sit with their righteous ones, some Allah^-azwj will Shower them with Mercy so you will be included in it, and it will come to you; and if you were to be righteous, then distance from the evil and the foolish ones, sometimes Allah^-azwj will Hit them with Punishment so you may be hit with them.

فَقَدْ أَفْصَحَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى بِقَوْلِهِ- فَلا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرى‏ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ‏ وَ بِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى- أَنْ إِذا سَمِعْتُمْ آياتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِها وَ يُسْتَهْزَأُ بِها فَلا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ إِنَّكُمْ إِذاً مِثْلُهُمْ‏ يَعْنِي فِي الْإِثْمِ وَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ- وَ لا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ.

Allah^-azwj the Glorious and Exalted has Disclosed by His^-azwj words: so after remembering, do not sit with the unjust people [6:68]; whenever you hear Signs of Allah being disbelieved in and mocked with, so do not be sitting with them until they engage in a discussion other than it; then you would be like them; [4:140] – meaning in the sin; and the Glorious Said: And you should not incline towards those who are unjust, so the Fire would touch you, [11:113]’’.[10]

وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ إِذَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى اعْتَزَلَ الشَّيْطَانُ وَ الدُّنْيَا عَنْهُمْ فَيَقُولُ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلدُّنْيَا أَ لَا تَرَيْنَ مَا يَصْنَعُونَ فَتَقُولُ الدُّنْيَا دَعْهُمْ فَلَوْ قَدْ تَفَرَّقُوا أَخَذْتُ بِأَعْنَاقِهِمْ.

And the Prophet^-saww said: ‘When a group of people gather, mentioning Allah^-azwj the Exalted, the Satan^-la and the world isolates from them. The Satan^-la says to the world, ‘Do you not see what they are doing?’ The world said, ‘Leave them, for when they disperse, I shall seize them by their necks!’’[11]

وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ الْمَجَالِسُ ثَلَاثَةٌ غَانِمٌ وَ سَالِمٌ وَ شَاحِبٌ فَأَمَّا الْغَانِمُ فَالَّذِي يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى فِيهِ وَ أَمَّا السَّالِمُ فَالسَّاكِتُ وَ أَمَّا الشَّاحِبُ فَالَّذِي يَخُوضُ فِي الْبَاطِلِ.

And the Prophet^-saww said: ‘The gathering is of three (types of people) – a gainer, and a safe one, and (one resembling) a dead. As for the gainer, he is the one who does Zikr of Allah^-azwj the Exalted in it, and as for the safe one, he is the silent, and as for the (one resembling) the dead, he is the one who dives into the falsehood’’.[12]

وَ قَالَ ص‏ الْجَلِيسُ الصَّالِحُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْوَحْدَةِ وَ الْوَحْدَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ جَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ.

And he^-saww said: ‘Sitting with the righteous one is better than being alone and being alone is better than sitting with the evil one’’.[13]

Sit with people observing religion:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مُجَالَسَةُ أَهْلِ الدِّينِ شَرَفُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ .

Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Al Fazl Bin Shazan, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Mansour bin Hazim, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has narrated that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The gatherings of the people of the Religion is a nobility in the world and the Hereafter’’.^[14]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مِهْزَمٍ وَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْكَاهِلِيِّ وَ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مِهْزَمٍ الْأَسَدِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَا مِهْزَمُ شِيعَتُنَا مَنْ لَا يَعْدُو صَوْتُهُ سَمْعَهُ وَ لَا شَحْنَاؤُهُ بَدَنَهُ وَ لَا يَمْتَدِحُ بِنَا مُعْلِناً وَ لَا يُجَالِسُ لَنَا عَائِباً وَ لَا يُخَاصِمُ لَنَا قَالِياً إِنْ لَقِيَ مُؤْمِناً أَكْرَمَهُ وَ إِنْ لَقِيَ جَاهِلًا هَجَرَهُ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Yunus, from Mihzam and one our companions, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Muhammad Bin Is’haq Al Kahily and Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Kufy, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Rabie Bin Muhammad, altogether from Mihzam Al Asady who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘O Mihzam! Our Shia is one whose voice does not exceed his own ears, nor does his animosity (exceed) his own body, nor does he praise us^-asws publicly, nor does he (participate in) gatherings finding flaws with us^-asws, nor does he dispute a speaker for us^-asws. If he meets a Momin, he honours him, and if he meets an ignoramus, flees (from him)’.

قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ بِهَؤُلَاءِ الْمُتَشَيِّعَةِ قَالَ فِيهِمُ التَّمْيِيزُ وَ فِيهِمُ التَّبْدِيلُ وَ فِيهِمُ التَّمْحِيصُ تَأْتِي عَلَيْهِمْ سِنُونَ تُفْنِيهِمْ وَ طَاعُونٌ يَقْتُلُهُمْ وَ اخْتِلَافٌ يُبَدِّدُهُمْ شِيعَتُنَا مَنْ لَا يَهِرُّ هَرِيرَ الْكَلْبِ وَ لَا يَطْمَعُ طَمَعَ الْغُرَابِ وَ لَا يَسْأَلُ عَدُوَّنَا وَ إِنْ مَاتَ جُوعاً

I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! So how should I deal with these pretentious Shia?’ He^-asws said: ‘Regarding them is the distinction, and regarding them is the variation, and regarding them is the screening. Years come upon them, perishing them, and plagues kill them, and differing scatter them. Our^-asws Shia is the one who does not bark like the barking of the dog, and he does not covet like the greed of the crow, nor does he ask our^-asws enemies and even if he dies of hunger’.

قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَيْنَ أَطْلُبُ هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَ فِي أَطْرَافِ الْأَرْضِ أُولَئِكَ الْخَفِيضُ عَيْشُهُمْ الْمُنْتَقِلَةُ دِيَارُهُمْ إِنْ شَهِدُوا لَمْ يُعْرَفُوا وَ إِنْ غَابُوا لَمْ يُفْتَقَدُوا وَ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَا يَجْزَعُونَ وَ فِي الْقُبُورِ يَتَزَاوَرُونَ وَ إِنْ لَجَأَ إِلَيْهِمْ ذُو حَاجَةٍ مِنْهُمْ رَحِمُوهُ لَنْ تَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَ إِنِ اخْتَلَفَ بِهِمُ الدَّارُ

I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! So when shall I seek these ones?’ He^-asws said: ‘In the outskirts of the land. They are the ones of basic (standards of) living. Their dwellings are temporary (keep changing). If they are present, they are not recognised, and when they are absent, they are not missed, and from the death they are not panicking, and in their graves they are visiting (each other); and if a need one comes over to them they are merciful to him. Their hearts are never differing and even if their houses are different’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَنَا الْمَدِينَةُ وَ عَلِيٌّ الْبَابُ وَ كَذَبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَدْخُلُ الْمَدِينَةَ لَا مِنْ قِبَلِ الْبَابِ وَ كَذَبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّنِي وَ يُبْغِضُ عَلِيّاً ( صلوات الله عليه ) .

Then he^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘I^-saww am the city and Ali^-asws is the gate; and the one who claims that he can enter the city without (going through) its door has lied, and the one who claims that he loves me^-saww while he hates Ali^-asws’ is a lair.[15]

Sit with whom you trust:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَصْبَهَانِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ مِسْعَرِ بْنِ كِدَامٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ لَمَجْلِسٌ أَجْلِسُهُ إِلَى مَنْ أَثِقُ بِهِ أَوْثَقُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ عَمَلِ سَنَةٍ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Qasim Bin Muhammad Al Isbahany, from Suleyman Bin Dawood Al Minqary, from Sufyan Bin Uyayna, from Mis’ar Bin Kidam who said,

‘I heard Abu Ja’far^-asws saying: ‘The sitting – I^-asws sit with one I^-asws trust with, is more strengthening regarding myself^-asws than working for a year’.^[16]

The Chief of gatherings:

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عِزّاً وَ عِزُّ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ دِعَامَةً وَ دِعَامَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ ذِرْوَةً وَ ذِرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ شَرَفاً وَ شَرَفُ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سَيِّداً وَ سَيِّدُ الْمَجَالِسِ مَجَالِسُ الشِّيعَةِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِمَاماً وَ إِمَامُ الْأَرْضِ أَرْضٌ تَسْكُنُهَا الشِّيعَةُ

(I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying)

Indeed! For everything there is an honour and the honour of Al-Islam are the Shiites. Indeed! For everything there is a pillar and the pillar of Al-Islam are the Shiites. Indeed! For everything there is a chief and the chief of the gatherings is the gathering of the Shiites. (an extract) [17]

Do not whisper to anyone in your gathering

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) لِشُرَيْحٍ لَا تُسَارَّ أَحَداً فِي مَجْلِسِكَ وَ إِنْ غَضِبْتَ فَقُمْ فَلَا تَقْضِيَنَّ فَأَنْتَ غَضْبَانُ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, raising it, said,

‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said to Shurayh (the judge): ‘Do not whisper to anyone in your gathering, and if you are angry, so arise and do not issue a judgement while you are angry’.

قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( صلوات الله عليه ) لِسَانُ الْقَاضِي وَرَاءَ قَلْبِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَالَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسَكَ .

He (the narrator) said, ‘And Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The tongue of a judge is behind his heart. So, if it was for him he speaks, and if it was against him, he remains silent’.^[18]

Don’t sit with unjust and those playing chess

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ مَرَّ بِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ أَنَا جَالِسٌ عِنْدَ قَاضٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْغَدِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا مَجْلِسٌ رَأَيْتُكَ فِيهِ أَمْسِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ هَذَا الْقَاضِيَ لِي مُكْرِمٌ فَرُبَّمَا جَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي وَ مَا يُؤْمِنُكَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ اللَّعْنَةُ فَتَعُمَّ مَنْ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from one of our companions, from Muhammad Bin Muslim who said,

‘Abu Ja’far^-asws and Abu Abdullah^-asws passed by me, and I was seated in the presence of the judge of Al-Medina. So I went over to him^-asws in the morning, so he^-asws said to me: ‘What sitting did I^-asws see you to be in, yesterday?’ I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! This judge is honourable to me, so sometimes I sit with him’. So he^-asws said to me: ‘And what would secure you if the Curse were to descend, so it would embrace (grip all) the ones in the gathering’^[19]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْبَصْرِيِّينَ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ( عليه السلام ) فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَقْعُدُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ يَلْعَبُونَ بِالشِّطْرَنْجِ وَ لَسْتُ أَلْعَبُ بِهَا وَ لَكِنْ أَنْظُرُ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ وَ لِمَجْلِسٍ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad Bin Isa who said,

‘A man from the (people of) Al-Basra came over to Abu Al-Hassan^-asws the 1st so he said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! I sit with a people who are playing with the chess, and I do not play with it, but I (just) look’. So he^-asws said: ‘What is it to you and a gathering which Allah^-azwj does not Look at its people?’^[20]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مِهْرَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ هَارُونَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ الْغِنَاءُ مَجْلِسٌ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ هُوَ مِمَّا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Mihran Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Haroun who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘The singing (music) gathering, Allah^-azwj does not Look at its people, and it is from what Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said [31:6] And from the people is one who buys amusing discourse to lead astray from Allah’s Way’.[21]

Don’t sit with the people of innovations:

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَا تَصْحَبُوا أَهْلَ الْبِدَعِ وَ لَا تُجَالِسُوهُمْ فَتَصِيرُوا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ كَوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْمَرْءُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ وَ قَرِينِهِ .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Ibn Abu Najran, from Umar Bin Yazeed,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Do not befriend the people of the innovation, nor sit with them (in a gathering), for you would become, in the presence of the people, like one of them’. Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The man is upon the Religion of his friend and his associates’.[22]

وَ عَنْهُمْ عَنْ سَهْلٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَطَّابِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ لَهُ لَأَحْمِلَنَّ ذُنُوبَ سُفَهَائِكُمْ عَلَى عُلَمَائِكُمْ إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ مَا يَمْنَعُكُمْ إِذَا بَلَغَكُمْ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُونَ وَ مَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ الْأَذَى أَنْ تَأْتُوهُ فَتُؤَنِّبُوهُ وَ تُعَذِّلُوهُ وَ تَقُولُوا لَهُ قَوْلًا بَلِيغاً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِذاً لَا يَقْبَلُونَ مِنَّا قَالَ اهْجُرُوهُمْ وَ اجْتَنِبُوا مَجَالِسَهُمْ

Several people have narrated to Suhail, who from ibn Mehboob, who form Khatab ibn Mohammed, who from al-Harith ibn al-Mughara who has said the following:

Aba Abdullah^-asws said: The sins of our shias are on the necks of the scholars. Why do you sit in the company of those who abhors you and me^-asws but you still speak with him? And a passer-by says about you that he is worse than the others. You should rebuke this kind of people. I said: ‘Even if I try to stop them (the scholars) they still continue with their mischief. Imam said^-asws: Then you should avoid them and stop sitting in their gatherings.[23]

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَا اجْتَمَعَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَصَاعِداً إِلَّا حَضَرَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مِثْلُهُمْ فَإِنْ دَعَوْا بِخَيْرٍ أَمَّنُوا وَ إِنِ اسْتَعَاذُوا مِنْ شَرٍّ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ لِيَصْرِفَهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ إِنْ سَأَلُوا حَاجَةً تَشَفَّعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ سَأَلُوهُ قَضَاءَهَا وَ مَا اجْتَمَعَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنَ الْجَاحِدِينَ إِلَّا حَضَرَهُمْ عَشَرَةُ أَضْعَافِهِمْ مِنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ فَإِنْ تَكَلَّمُوا تَكَلَّمَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنَحْوِ كَلَامِهِمْ وَ إِذَا ضَحِكُوا ضَحِكُوا مَعَهُمْ وَ إِذَا نَالُوا مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ اللَّهِ نَالُوا مَعَهُمْ فَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِهِمْ فَإِذَا خَاضُوا فِي ذَلِكَ فَلْيَقُمْ وَ لَا يَكُنْ شِرْكَ شَيْطَانٍ وَ لَا جَلِيسَهُ فَإِنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَقُومُ لَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ لَعْنَتَهُ لَا يَرُدُّهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ ص‏ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيُنْكِرْ بِقَلْبِهِ وَ لْيَقُمْ وَ لَوْ حَلْبَ شَاةٍ أَوْ فُوَاقَ نَاقَةٍ

AI-Hussain ibn Mohammed and Mohammed ibn Yahya all have narrated from Ali ibn Mohammed ibn Sa’d from Mohammed ibn Muslim from Ahmad ibn Zakariya from Mohammed ibn Khalid ibn Maymun from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has narrated the following from abu Abd Allah^-asws:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws has said: ‘Wherever three or more believing people gather together an equal number of angels also attend it (gathering). If they pray for a good purpose the angels say Amen! If they seek protection (from Allah^-azwj) against an evil matter, the angels pray to Allah^-azwj to divert it from them. If they pray so their wishes come true, the angels intercede for them before Allah^-azwj and pray to Him^-azwj to Grant their wishes.

Wherever three or more rejecters (of belief) gather together, ten times their number, Satan also attends it. If they speak, Satan also speaks likewise, if they laugh, they (Satans) laugh with them. If they succeed (in abuse) against the friends of Allah^-azwj, they (Satans) do the same.

If any of the believing people is trapped among them and when they involve themselves in such behaviours he should move away from them so he does not become of the attendance along with Satan; the wrath of Allah^-azwj is insurmountable and His^-azwj condemnation is irremovable.’ The Imam^-asws then said: ‘If he cannot do so (move away) he must condemn it in his heart and stand-up even for a short while and move a little, like the time of allowing the young animal to have its share of milk while milking the mother.’[24]

The talk of gatherings are to be protected and not propagated:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَوْفٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الْمَجَالِسُ بِالْأَمَانَةِ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, and Ahmad Bin Muhammad, altogether from Ibn Mahboub, from Abdullah Bin Sinan, from Ibn Abu Awf, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘I heard him^-asws saying: ‘The gatherings are with the confidentiality’ (in the hands of the attendants).[25]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْمَجَالِسُ بِالْأَمَانَةِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Zurara, from;

Abu Ja’far^-asws has narrated that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The gatherings are with the confidentiality’ (in the hands of the attendants).[26]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ الْمَجَالِسُ بِالْأَمَانَةِ وَ لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِحَدِيثٍ يَكْتُمُهُ صَاحِبُهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ ثِقَةً أَوْ ذِكْراً لَهُ بِخَيْرٍ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Usman Bin Isa, from the one who mentioned it, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘The gatherings are with the confidentiality. No one must make public anything that one’s companion does not want to be made public unless it with his permission, or he is trusted and does it only for his good’.[27]

Offering Salam in a gathering:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ جَمِيلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ قَوْمٌ فِي مَجْلِسٍ ثُمَّ سَبَقَ قَوْمٌ فَدَخَلُوا فَعَلَى الدَّاخِلِ أَخِيراً إِذَا دَخَلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz, from Jameel, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘When a group enters into a gathering, then (another) group proceeds and enters, so it is upon the ones entering later, when they do enter, that they should greet (السَّلَامُ) upon them (the first one)’.[28]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ثَلَاثٌ يُصْفِينَ وُدَّ الْمَرْءِ لِأَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ يَلْقَاهُ بِالْبُشْرِ إِذَا لَقِيَهُ وَ يُوَسِّعُ لَهُ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ إِذَا جَلَسَ إِلَيْهِ وَ يَدْعُوهُ بِأَحَبِّ الْأَسْمَاءِ إِلَيْهِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has narrated that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Three (things) would purify a Muslim’s love for his brother (in Eman) – he meets him with a smile when he does meet him, and makes space for him in the gathering when he comes over to sit, and he calls him with the name most beloved to him’.[29]

To recite when arising from a gathering:

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتَالَ بِالْمِكْيَالِ الْأَوْفَى فَلْيَقُلْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَقُومَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ

And by his chain, said,

‘Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘The one who intends that he be Rewarded in a perfect measure (maximum Reward), so let him say whenever he intends to arise from his gathering,

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَ سَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ .

Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Honour‘[37:180], from what they are describing And peace be on the Rasools [37:181] And the Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds[37:182]’.[30]

A supplication of 4^th Imam^-asws:

يَا سَيِّدِي تُعَذِّبُنِي وَ حُبُّكَ فِي قَلْبِي أَمَا وَ عِزَّتِكَ لَئِنْ فَعَلْتَ لَتَجْمَعَنَّ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمٍ طَالَ مَا عَادَيْتُهُمْ فِيكَ .

‘O my Master! Will You^-azwj Punish me while Your^-azwj Love is in my^-asws heart? But, by Your^-azwj Mighty, if You^-azwj Do so, You^-azwj would be Gathering between me^-asws and the group of people with whom I^-asws have prolonged being their enemy for Your^-azwj Sake’’.[31]

The gathering (of people) during the supplication

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) مَا مِنْ رَهْطٍ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلًا اجْتَمَعُوا فَدَعَوُا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي أَمْرٍ إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا أَرْبَعِينَ فَأَرْبَعَةٌ يَدْعُونَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا أَرْبَعَةً فَوَاحِدٌ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَرْبَعِينَ مَرَّةً فَيَسْتَجِيبُ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ لَهُ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ali Bin Ma’bad, from Ubeydullah Bin Abdullah Al Wasity, from Dorost Bin Abu Mansour, from Abu Khalid who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘There is none from a group of forty men gathering, supplicating to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic regarding a (particular) matter, except that Allah^-azwj would Answer for them. So if there do not happen to be forty men, so (a group of) four supplicating to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic ten times, except that Allah^-azwj would Answer for them. So if there do not happen to be four, so one individual supplicating to Allah^-azwj forty times, so Allah^-azwj the Mighty, the Compeller would Answer for him’.[32]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَا اجْتَمَعَ أَرْبَعَةُ رَهْطٍ قَطُّ عَلَى أَمْرٍ وَاحِدٍ فَدَعَوُا اللَّهَ إِلَّا تَفَرَّقُوا عَنْ إِجَابَةٍ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Yunus Bin Yaqoub, from Abdul A’ala,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘There would not gather a group of four upon one matter, so they are supplicating to Allah^-azwj, except they would be dispersing upon an Answer’.[33]

عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ أَبِي ( عليه السلام ) إِذَا حَزَنَهُ أَمْرٌ جَمَعَ النِّسَاءَ وَ الصِّبْيَانَ ثُمَّ دَعَا وَ أَمَّنُوا .

From him, from Al Hajjal, from Sa’alba, from Ali Bin Uqba, from a man,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘It was so that whenever a matter grieved my^-asws father^-asws, he^-asws would gather the womenfolk and the children, then supplicate, and they would be saying Ameen’.[34]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ الدَّاعِي وَ الْمُؤَمِّنُ فِي الْأَجْرِ شَرِيكَانِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The supplicatory and the one saying ‘Ameen’ are both participants in the Recompense’.[35]

Rasool Allah^-saww would seek forgiveness for people prior to exiting a gathering:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَانَ لَا يَقُومُ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ وَ إِنْ خَفَّ حَتَّى يَسْتَغْفِرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَمْساً وَ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Talha Bin Zayd, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws has narrated that Rasool-Allah^-azwj never used to arise from a gathering, and even if it was a small one, until he^-saww sought Forgiveness of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic (on behalf of them), twenty five times’.[36]

Mentioning Allah^-azwj in gatherings:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِعِيسَى ( عليه السلام ) يَا عِيسَى اذْكُرْنِي فِي نَفْسِكَ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي نَفْسِي وَ اذْكُرْنِي فِي مَلَئِكَ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ مَلَإِ الْآدَمِيِّينَ يَا عِيسَى أَلِنْ لِي قَلْبَكَ وَ أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرِي فِي الْخَلَوَاتِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ سُرُورِي أَنْ تُبَصْبِصَ إِلَيَّ وَ كُنْ فِي ذَلِكَ حَيّاً وَ لَا تَكُنْ مَيِّتاً .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Ibn Fazzal, raising it, said,

‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said to Isa^-as: “O Isa^-as! Mention Me^-azwj within yourself^-as, I^-azwj will Mention you^-as within Myself^-azwj, and mention Me^-azwj in your^-as gathering, I^-azwj shall Mention you^-as in a gathering better than the gathering of the human beings. O Isa^-as! Soften your^-as heart for Me^-azwj and frequent My^-azwj Mention in the isolation, and know that My^-azwj Gladness is that you^-as compliment to Me^-azwj and become lively during that and do not become (like) dead”’.[37]

عَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ غَالِبِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ الدَّهَّانِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْكُرْنِي فِي مَلَإٍ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ مَلَئِكَ .

From him, from Ibn Fazzal, from Ghalib Bin Usman, from Bashir Al Dahhan, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws narrates: Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: “O son of Adam^-as! Mention Me^-azwj in a gathering, I^-azwj shall Mention you in a gathering better than your gathering’.[38]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Mahboub, from the one who mentioned it, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws narrates: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: “The one who mentions Me^‑azwj in a gathering of the people, I^-azwj shall Mention him in a gathering of the Angels’.[39]

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ اجْتَمَعُوا فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا عَلَى نَبِيِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْلِسُ حَسْرَةً وَ وَبَالًا عَلَيْهِمْ .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Husayn Bin Zayd, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws narrates that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘There is none from a group gathering in a gather, so they are not mentioning the Name of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and are not sending Salawāt upon their Prophet^-as, except that gathering would be a regret and an evil result upon them’.[40]

Gathering which Imam^-asws would like to join in:

عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُيَسِّرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَ تَخْلُونَ وَ تَتَحَدَّثُونَ وَ تَقُولُونَ مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقُلْتُ إِي وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَنَخْلُو وَ نَتَحَدَّثُ وَ نَقُولُ مَا شِئْنَا فَقَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فِي بَعْضِ تِلْكَ الْمَوَاطِنِ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ رِيحَكُمْ وَ أَرْوَاحَكُمْ وَ إِنَّكُمْ عَلَى دِينِ اللَّهِ وَ دِينِ مَلَائِكَتِهِ فَأَعِينُوا بِوَرَعٍ وَ اجْتِهَادٍ

It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Muskan from Muyassir who has said the following:

‘Once abu Jafar^-asws asked me: ‘Do you hold private gatherings wherein you say whatever you want?’ I said: ‘Yes, I swear by Allah^-azwj, we hold private gatherings and say whatever we like to say (in praise of Muhammad^-saww and his family^-asws).’ The Imam^-asws said: ‘I swear by Allah^-azwj, I^-asws wish I^-asws could be with you at such gatherings. I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj, I^-asws love your fragrance and your spirits. You, certainly, follow the religion of Allah^-azwj, and the religion of the angels^-as. Pay attention to restraining from the worldly attractions (sins) and assist yourselves with striving hard in work.’[41]

The Sitting manners in a gathering:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَنْبَغِي لِلْجُلَسَاءِ فِي الصَّيْفِ أَنْ يَكُونَ بَيْنَ كُلِّ اثْنَيْنِ مِقْدَارُ عَظْمِ الذِّرَاعِ لِئَلَّا يَشُقَّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الْحَرِّ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni who reports the following from Abu Abd Allah^-asws:

‘The Messenger of Allah^-saww has said: ‘In a gathering during summer the distance between two people should be an elbow’s length (about eighteen inches) so that no difficulty is caused to any of them.’[42]

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ الزَّاهِدِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِدُونِ التَّشَرُّفِ مِنَ الْمَجْلِسِ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَلَائِكَتُهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَقُومَ

Ali has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Mohammed ibn Murazim from abu Sulayman al-Zahid narrates the following from Abu Abd Allah^-asws:

‘Whoever feels content with a seat without formalities in a gathering, Allah^-azwjand His^-asws angels continue doing and asking favours for him until he leaves the gathering.’[43]

كِتَابُ الْغَايَاتِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ شَرَفاً وَ إِنَّ أَشْرَفَ الْمَجَالِسِ مَا اسْتُقْبِلَ بِهِ الْقِبْلَةُ.

(The book) ‘Kitab Al Gharaat’ – From Ibn Abbas who said,

‘For all things there is a nobility, and the noblest sitting is what the Qiblah is faced with’’.[44]

نهج، نهج البلاغة قَالَ ع فِيمَا كَتَبَ إِلَى الْحَارِثِ الْهَمْدَانِيِ‏ إِيَّاكَ وَ مَقَاعِدَ الْأَسْوَاقِ فَإِنَّهَا مَحَاضِرُ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مَعَارِيضُ الْفِتَنِ‏.

(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’ –

‘He^-asws said: ‘Among what he^-asws wrote to Al-Haris Al-Hamdany: ‘Beware of sitting in the markets, for it is an attendance of the Satan^-la and exposures to the temptations’’.[45]

مُنْيَةُ الْمُرِيدِ، نَهَى النَّبِيُّ ص عَنْ أَنْ يُقَامَ الرَّجُلُ عَنْ مَجْلِسِهِ وَ يَجْلِسَ فِيهِ آخَرُ قَالَ ص وَ لَكِنْ تَفَسَّحُوا وَ تَوَسَّعُوا.

(The book) ‘Muniyat Al Mureed’ –

‘The Prophet^-saww prohibited from the man standing from his seat and another one sits in it. He^-saww said: ‘But make room and space’’.[46]

وَ رُوِيَ‏ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص لَعَنَ مَنْ جَلَسَ وَسَطَ الْحَلْقَةِ وَ نَهَى أَنْ يَجْلِسَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِمَا.

And it is reported –

‘The Prophet^-saww cursed the one who sits in the middle of the circle, and prohibited the man from sitting between the two men except by their permission’’.[47]

عُدَّةُ الدَّاعِي، عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ: مَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي مَجْلِسٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرُونَا إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْلِسُ حَسْرَةً عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

(The book) ‘Uddat Al Daie’ –

‘From Al-Sadiq^-asws having said: ‘A people will not gather in any gathering in which Allah^-azwj is not mentioned and we^-asws are not mentioned, except that gathering will be a regret upon them on the Day of Qiyamah’.

وَ قَالَ ع مَا مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ يَجْتَمِعُ فِيهِ أَبْرَارٌ وَ فُجَّارٌ ثُمَّ تَفَرَّقُوا عَلَى غَيْرِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ حَسْرَةً عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

And he^-asws said: ‘There is none from a gathering in which the righteous and the immoral ones are gathered, then they separate upon without having mentioned Allah^-azwj, except that (gathering) will be a regret upon them on the Day of Qiyamah’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ ذِكْرَنَا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ ذِكْرَ عَدُوِّنَا مِنْ ذِكْرِ الشَّيْطَانِ.

Then Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘Our^-asws Zikr is from the Zikr of Allah^-azwj, and Zikr of our^-asws enemies is from the Zikr of the Satan^-la’’.[48]

[1] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 11, The book of Prophet-hood, S 4 Ch 6 H 5

[2] Al-Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 163 H 1

[3] Al-Kafi, V 8, H. 14763

[4] Al-Kafi V 2 – The Book of Belief and Disbelief CH 163 H 14

[5] Al-Kafi, V 8, H. 14617

[6] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 8 H 1

[7] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 8 H 2

[8] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 8 H 3

[9] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 21 H 2

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 13 H 18 c

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 13 H 18 d

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 13 H 18 e

[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 13 H 18 f

[14] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 8 H 4

[15] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 99 H 27

[16] Al-Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 8 H 3

[17] Al-Kafi, V 8, H. 14707

[18] Al Kafi – V 7 – The Book of Judgements and the Rulings Ch 9 H 5

[19] Al Kafi – V 7 – The Book of Judgements and the Rulings Ch 7 H 1

[20] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Drinks Ch 35 H 12

[21] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Drinks Ch 34 H 16

[22] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 4 H 10

[23] Ibid, H. 21198 from al-Roza (al-Kafi)

[24] Al-Kafi, vol, 2, H. 2114, Ch. 77, h 6 الكافي ج : 2 ص : 188

[25] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 19 H 1

[26] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 19 H 2

[27] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 19 H 3

[28] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 8 H 5

[29] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Social Relationships CH 5 H 3

[30] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 21 H 3

[31] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 60 H 10

[32] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 17 H 1

[33] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 17 H 2

[34] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 17 H 3

[35] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 17 H 4

[36] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 28 H 4

[37] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 25 H 3

[38] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 21 H 12

[39] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 21 H 13

[40] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 21 H 5

[41] Al-Kafi, vol, 2, H. 2113 Ch. 77 h 5

[42] Al-Kafi, vol. 2, H. 3710, Ch. 21, h, 8

[43] Al-Kafi, vol. 2, H. 3705, Ch. 21, h, 3

[44] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 96 H 4

[45] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 95 H 18

[46] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 95 H 19 a

[47] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 95 H 19 b

[48] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 95 H 20 a

Never sit with those who are disobeying or insulting Guardians of Allah-azwj

Advice of Luqman-as to his son regarding sitting in a gathering:

Sit with those who remind and do Zikr of Allah-azwj: