Friday, November 30, 2012

Etiquettes of Gathering or Majlis

Assalamualaikum WarahmatuAllahi Wabarakatuhu!

We as Social human beings usually attend a lot of Gatherings. It may be a party, small get togethers, an Educational gathering (Deeni or Worldly), funerals, weddings, dinner hangouts, Political events, business meetings or even a gathering of your family. A Majlis is a Gathering that consists of more than 2 people involved in a meeting with one another regarding any occasion.
Attending gatherings are permissible and very much appreciated. To maintain ties and engage with people is also very much liked. Although there are some etiquettes of every Majlis that any educated person should know about. Knowing this would create harmony and improves our personality so much better and most of all our Akhlaq (Habitual Manners) are amended. in sha Allah!
There are majority of things I never knew we should be doing and not doing when we attend a majlis. I was really overwhelmed and inspired from it when I learned about it. I would like all my fellow Muslims to understand the etiquettes of a gathering and take benefit from it.
ETIQUETTES OF GATHERINGS:
  1. The first and foremost point to remember when we are attending any gathering is: Make an intention, Whats the purpose of attending it and selection of the place to gather. If you know its halal then move on with the plan.
  2. Welcome those who are attending a majlis by giving SALAM and making room for them whether we know them or not. Do not make them feel unwelcome or uninvited. [Surah Al Mujaadilah Verse: 11]
  3.  Attend any gatherings on time and leave on time lest you become a burden on others.
  4. Whisperings in a gathering is disliked which will create suspicions and doubts in others' hearts in a negative way. [Bukhari, Kitab Al Iste'azaan: 6290]
  5. Creating another gathering in a gathering is also disliked. We should mingle with everyone in a gathering rather than making groups and getting secluded from others. 
  6. Participate in the topics and discussions taking place in a conference. Enjoy and have fun with everyone. Do not seclude yourself from others. This makes others feel uncomfortable. 
  7. Do not participate in any majlis or gathering where mocking and making fun of Islam is going on. Simply dismiss yourself and leave those gatherings immediately. [Surah Al Mujaadilah Verse:9]
  8. The best of the majlis is that in which the Remembrance of Allah and Praise of Allah is going on. Angels pray for us and note down our deeds along with our intentions. Mercy and tranquility covers those who Remember Allah. Most of all Allah mentions about us to the ones close to Him (angels). SubhanAllah! How great. [Tirmidhi, Kitab Ad-dawaat:3380]
  9. Those who leave a gathering without the mention or remembrance of Allah is like leaving the corpse of a donkey and it will be a means of remorse and regret for them. How Horrible! 
  10. Try to avoid those weddings where there is no Hijab or where loud Music is played. But its better to give the duwas and greetings and leave early as possible.
  11. Try to send salams and peace on RasoolaAllah as much as possible as one recitation of Durood is equal to 10 Mercies on us. 
  12. Backbiting, making fun, insulting, talking obscene language and detailed personal life of husband-wife relations, disrespecting others, interference in speech, not paying attention, not letting others to speak is simply not allowed and is against akhlaq. 
  13. Do not make a happy majlis into a sad one and a sad majlis into a happy one. Give every majlis their right!
  14. Do not hurt in any way be it with our eyes, tongue, hands or legs. Leave a majlis by keeping others happy and by enjoying the event.
  15. Do not sit and block the way that will create troubles for others to walk or sit. 
  16. If someone has entered into a majlis and is looking for space, give space to them to sit and welcome them. Do not be possessive of your space. If you gave space to them, then Allah will create space in your hearts, rizq, house and Jannah.  
  17. If you were asked to move away from the way or get up from a seat to help the elderly or for some other reason, get up and do not take it personally. Allah will exalt your degrees in the aakhirat.  
  18. If you happen to attend anyone's house and see a party going on, do not start asking why they didn't invite you. This is a very immature way to behave. 
  19. Keep smiling and do not make a doughnut face that will switch off other people's mood.  
  20. Try to talk to others based on their interests rather than bombarding all your interests on them. 
  21. Do not ask others to get up from their seat to let yourself sit instead (as if the seat was named after you). Usually kids take up all the seats and do not leave space for Elders. The elders need to teach their children to give respect to elders. [Bukhari, Kitaab Al Adab: 6269]
  22. Mothers need to control and keep a check on their children by not letting them do whatever they want and whenever they want. This is troublesome for others.
  23. Maintain hygiene wherever you go especially in schools and educational gatherings, somehow someone has to stink. :S
  24. Always leave your place of the Majlis clean and tidy. Do not create a bunch of mess and just leave it behind. This is Fasad and corruption which Allah has warned us about. This usually happens in Masjids, our own rooms and houses or at your dear best friend's house. :P
  25. Try to sit in the company of more righteous people than those people who speak nothing but vulgar/cursing, useless speeches and doing childish immature acts because you are who you are friends with. 
  26.  Do not interrupt when two people are having a private conversation and budge into them asking questions on what they were talking about. [Abu dawud, Kitab Al Adaab 4844]
  27. Last but not the least, when you leave any majlis, do not leak any confidential information outside of that majlis nor twist or distort the information which might create Fasad. 
    credit to Nawal Mirza

Alhumdulillah, such are the etiquettes our Islam teaches us. 
JazakiAllah hu khairan for taking out your valuable time and reading this. 

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views. - Invisible Identity