(129) Chapter: Etiquette of Attending company and sitting with Companions

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not ask someone to give up his seat in order to take it, but make accommodation wide and sit at ease." It was Ibn 'Umar's habit that if a person left his seat for him, he would not take it. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: Herein, we are told that the space of meeting should be wide enough to accommodate every participant. None should feel the space problem. Good manners disallow a newcomer to get a seat vacated for himself by force, no matter if the occupant is an inferior. Yet, there is nothing undesirable if the latter willingly vacates the seat for a superior. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) would never agree to availing even a willing offer in this respect. Obviously extreme Taqwa (fear of Allah) and moral scruples lay behind his reluctance to take the place of somebody else. Yet, there are a few exceptions in this regard. For example, if somebody sits in the chair of his teacher, he may be asked to leave it. Also if a man has fixed place in the market to sell his goods, another person will not be justified in occupying it forcibly.