Kindly provide the source of the following narration:
“Everything has an honour, and the most honourable gathering, is that gathering which is facing the qiblah”
Answer
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration as part of a lengthy Hadith with an extremely weak chain.
(Mustadrak, vol. 4 pg. 270)
However, Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has also recorded a similar narration with slightly different words. These words should be quoted instead:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Every thing has a leader, and the leader of all gatherings are those gatherings facing the qiblah”
(Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 2375)
‘Allamah Mundhiri and Hafiz Haythami (rahimahumallah) have declared this chain sound (hasan).
(Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 59 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 8 pg. 59)
The teacher or person conducting the majlis will face his back to the qiblah, and the gathering will face the qiblah just as is the case in the Khutbah.
(Refer: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 2421)
Mughith ibn Sumayy, (a Tabi’i) went to the gathering of Makhul (rahimahullah), the student of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). Makhul made space for Mugith next to him. Mughith refused and sat facing the qiblah and said, this is the best [way to sit]
(Al Jami’ Li Akhlaqir Rawi, vol. 2 pg. 62 and Adabul Imla Wal Istimla, pg. 52)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar