Chapter: The Recommendation to Gather for Recitation
1023 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No group of people gathers in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, without tranquility descending upon them, mercy enveloping them, the angels surrounding them, and Allah mentioning them among those who are with Him.” Narrated by Muslim.
[Explanation]
Imam al-Nawawi (d. 676 AH) entitles this section in his work Riyad al-Salihin, “The Recommendation to Gather for the Recitation of the Qur’an.” By it he intends to show that it is recommended for people to assemble to recite the Qur’an—just as we now see in the memorization circles held in the mosques. In such circles they gather to learn and teach the Qur’an, and this is precisely what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged.
Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet said: “No group of people gathers in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, without…”—and he mentioned four outcomes that follow from such a gathering:
- Tranquility descends upon them.
- Mercy envelops them.
- The angels surround them.
- Allah mentions them among those who are with Him.
His words “in one of the houses of Allah” refer to the mosques, for the mosques are the houses of Allah on earth. Allah the Exalted says, “In houses which Allah has allowed to be raised and wherein His name is remembered, men glorify Him therein morning and evening—men whom neither commerce…” (al-Nur 24:36-37).