Benefit:
The hadith, “The Best of Gatherings is a Spacious One”, who extracted it, who is the companion that narrated it and what is the condition of the hadith?
Imaam Ahmad extracted it, likewise Imaam al-Bukhari in Adab Mufrad and Abu Dawud and other than him. And it is the hadith of Abu Saeed al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him). It is a sound (Sahih) and good hadith. As it can be found in Ja’amiah as-Sahih from those that are not in the Two Sahihs (Bukhari and Muslim) of Imaam Wadi (may Allah have mercy on him). Likewise Imaam Albani graded it Sahih as well.
The reason Abu Saeed narrated this hadith is, he was in a gathering were he was called to a funeral, so he went and prayed on the person then returned to find people in their gathering. So then some wanted to get up so others could sit in there place. Abu Saeed said No. So he went to another area that was more spacious. Then he said, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The Best of Gatherings is a Spacious One.”
For that reason, the people of knowledge and understanding, the likes of al-Alaamah Albani (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “If you sit in a place you will place yourself in the center of that space so if someone calls you to sit and there is crowding, then say no that’s ok, stay in your place, and go to another area. Then they can choose to come to where you are one by one and sit with you. So this is the best of gatherings, the more spacious one.
A person should not come to sit in a place to cause crowding or tightness for the people in that gathering. Especially if there is ample space around, just sit in an area that has more space, there is no need to cramp and congest the people. Stepping over people or sitting in between two people already sitting or sitting in an area that is already overcrowded. This causes one to have to place his knees against someone else knees, squeezing in between the people, while there is other spaces available.
So the one that desires to sit up close let him go early not to cause difficulty upon the people.
Benefited from: Shaikh Abu Abdillah Muhammad Ba Jamaal (May Allah preserve him)
Source: https://t.me/OfficialChannelShaykhBaajammaal/182
Translated by: Abu Yusuf Bilal ibn Howard Robinson