A Model to Follow and Emulate

What were the standards of these people concerning organizing religious gatherings, engaging in purposeful conversations, fulfilling the due rights of each other? In this regard Hazrat Abu Darda’ (ra) narrates:

“I seek refuge from Allah the Exalted that I may face a day when I do not remember Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Rawaha. I think of him every single day and this is due to one of his good qualities. Whenever we met, if he would arrive from behind me he would put his hand on my shoulders; if he would arrive from the front he would place his hand on my chest and say, ‘O Abu Darda’! Let’s go and let’s sit down together to reinvigorate our faith. Let’s talk about faith.’ We would sit together for as long as possible and remember Allah the almighty. Then he would say: ‘O Abu Darda’! These are spiritual gatherings.’”

(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 236, Bab Abdullah (ra) bin Rawaha, Darul Kutub al-‘Ilmiyah, Beirut 1996)

Hence, those who organized such spiritual gatherings also established models for us to follow and emulate.