Muawiyah bin Qurrah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I asked Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him, whether he preferred reciting the Qur'an from the Mushaf or sitting with a storyteller. He replied: Recite the Qur'an from your Mushaf. I asked: Is visiting a sick person more preferable or sitting with a storyteller? He replied: Visit the sick person. I said: Is it better to go with a funeral procession or to sit with a storyteller? He replied: Go with the funeral procession. I said: If a man asks me for help in some need, is it better to go with him or to sit with a storyteller? He replied: Go with your brother in his need, until Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him, considered helping a brother in his need to be the best gathering in one's free time.
Hadith Referenceسنن سعید بن منصور / كتاب التفسير / 980