Authored by: Sheikh Abdul Salam bin Muhammad (may Allah protect him)
Narrated by Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No man should make another man stand from his seat and then sit in it, but you should make room and accommodate each other.”
— [Agreed upon], Bulugh al-Maram: 1239
References:
[Bukhari: 1379], [Muslim: Book of Peace 28, 27], and others. See Tuhfat al-Ashraf 6/220.
Narrated by Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No man should make another man stand from his seat and then sit in it, but you should make room and accommodate each other.”
— [Agreed upon], Bulugh al-Maram: 1239
References:
[Bukhari: 1379], [Muslim: Book of Peace 28, 27], and others. See Tuhfat al-Ashraf 6/220.
Vocabulary:
- Tafassahu (تفسحوا): Open up to make room for someone to sit.
- Tawassu' (توسعوا): Move closer to each other to create space for someone new to sit.
Benefits from the Hadith:
- Public Seating Spaces:
This Hadith does not mean that it is impermissible to remove someone from their personal seat or owned property. In such cases, sitting without permission is not allowed in the first place. The prohibition applies to places where sitting is permissible for all Muslims, such as mosques, public gatherings of officials, study circles of scholars, trading areas, workshops, recreational areas, and public spaces like Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat. Whoever arrives first has the right to the seat, and it is not permissible for anyone to remove them and take their place. - Humility and Avoiding Self-Preference:
A person who removes someone from their seat to take it for themselves may do so out of arrogance or a sense of superiority, which is not becoming of a Muslim. Allah says:
“They prefer others over themselves, even if they are in need.”
— (Surah Al-Hashr: 9)
If someone does this out of pride, it is even worse because Allah commands humility. - Maintaining Unity:
Removing someone from their seat and taking their place can create resentment and enmity in the hearts of people. This contradicts the emphasis in Islam on fostering mutual love and brotherhood among believers. - Voluntary Offering of Seat:
The Hadith teaches that if a person voluntarily offers their seat, it is permissible to accept it. However, Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) would avoid sitting in such situations if someone stood up for him. He believed that they might not be offering the seat willingly, but out of embarrassment or social pressure.
— [Bukhari: 7470] - Removing Disruptive Individuals:
Exceptions to this ruling include individuals who may be causing a disruption in a scholarly gathering or violating the sanctity of a mosque. Such people can be removed, as Allah says:
“Do not give the foolish your wealth.”
— (Surah An-Nisa: 5)
The value of knowledge and maintaining order in a gathering is far greater than wealth, and just as fools are prevented from wasting wealth, they can also be prevented from disrupting knowledge-based gatherings. - Removing Those Causing Harm:
If someone enters a mosque after consuming something with a foul odor (such as garlic or onions), or engages in behavior that harms others, they can be asked to leave. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever eats from these vegetables (garlic, onions, or leeks), let him not approach our mosque because the angels are harmed by what harms the children of Adam.”
— [Muslim, narrated by Jabir: 4]
Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) once said in a Friday sermon, “O people, you eat these two plants which I consider offensive (garlic and onions). I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) detect the smell of these plants from a person, and he ordered that the person be taken to Baqi’.”
— [Muslim: 78]
The smell of tobacco or cigarettes is far more offensive and harmful than that of garlic or onions, so removing individuals for such reasons is permissible.