V3 - P 202 - 303 - World Of Islam Portal

THE LlVES OF THE SAHABAH 'BGw (Vol-3) 247
asked, "0 Rasulullaah m! Which of our companions are best?" Rasulullaah
&% replied, "The person who reminds you of Allaah when you look at him,
whose speech increases your knowledge and whose deeds remind you of the
Aakhirah." (I)
Hadhrat Qurra @Z%&j reports that when Rasulullaah sat in a gathering, the
Sahabah i4BLw would sit in groups around him (to learn and teach, asking
Rasulullaah @% when they needed to)." (2)
The Gatherings of the Sahabah after
the Fajr Salaah
Hadhrat Yazeed.Raqaashi says that after narrating Ahadeeth to them, Hadhrat
Anas W'Wj would say, "By Allaah! This Hadith has not been learnt as you people
-
learn when people gather around a person who lectures to them. What used to
happen is that the Sahabah used to sit in groups after the Fajr salaah
to recite the Qur'aan and learn the compulsory and optional aspects of ~een."(~)
Rasulullaah rn Sits with a Gathering of the
Sahabah $$%5W that Included many Poor People
Hadhrat Abu Sa'eed Khudri GWiXN relates, "I was sitting with a group of
Muhaajireen amongst whom were people who (because of poverty) had so little
clothing that they were hiding behind each other. A Qaari of ours was busy
reciting the Qur'aan and we were all busy listening to Allaah's Book. Rasulullaah
@% (arrived there and) said, 'All praise is for Allaah who has created in my
Ummah people with whom I have been instructed to remain with.' The group
turned and faced Rasulullaah @?@, who recognised none of them besides myself.
Rasulullaah t% then said, '0 impoverished Muhaajireen, listen to the good
news that you will have perfect light on the Day of Qiyaamah. You will enter
Jannah half a day before the rich, which is equal to five hundred years."'(4)
Rasulullaah rn Prefers the Gathering of
Knowledge to the Gathering of Dhikr
Hadhrat ~bdullaah bin Amr 4%!3&j narrates that Rasulullaah @% once passed
by two gatherings in his Masjid. While the people in one gathering were making
du'aa to Allaah and concentrating on this, the other was learning and teaching
Fiqh. Rasulullaah @% remarked, "While both gatherings are doing excellent
work, the one is superior than the other. As for the one, they are making du'aa to
Allaah and concentrating on this. If Allaah wills, He shall grant them (what they
ask) and if He wills, He may refuse them. As for the others, they are learning
and teaching the ignorant and I have been sent as a teacher." Rasulullaah @%
(1) Abu Ya'la. Mundhiri (Vol.1 Pg.76) has commented on the chain of narrators.
(2) Bazzaar.
(3) Majma'uzZawaaM(Vol.1 Pg.132).
(4) Bayhaqi, as quoted in A/ Bidaayah wan Nihaayah (Vo1.6 Pg.57). Abu Nu'aym has reported the
narration at greater length in his Hilya ('01.1 Pg.342).