No people leave a gathering in which they did not remember Allah except that it will be as if they are leaving the carcass of a donkey, and it will be a cause of regret for them

Arabic text

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ يَقُومُونَ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ إِلَّا قَامُوا عَنْ مِثْلِ جِيفَةِ حِمَارٍ، وَكَانَ لَهُمْ حَسْرَةً».

Translation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No people leave a gathering in which they did not remember Allah except that it will be as if they are leaving the carcass of a donkey, and it will be a cause of regret for them."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that no people attend a gathering then leave it without remembering Allah therein except that it will be as if they are leaving a gathering on the carcass of a donkey in terms of rottenness and filth because of being too preoccupied with their speech from remembering Allah. This gathering will be a source of their sorrow, loss, and eternal regret on the Day of Judgment.

Benefits

• The warning mentioned here against heedlessness of remembering Allah is not restricted only to gatherings; rather, it includes other things as well. An-Nawawi said: It is disliked for one who sits in a place to leave it without remembering Allah Almighty therein.
• The sorrow they experience on the Day of Judgment: is either because of missing the recompense and reward for not taking advantage of the time in obeying Allah, or because of incurring sin and being subject to punishment because of using the time in disobeying Allah.
• If this warning is against heedlessness caused by what is permissible, then what about the prohibited gatherings that involve backbiting, talebearing, and other prohibitions?!

Topics

• Virtues and Manners
• Virtues
• Merits of Remembering Allah