BENEFIT 506: Why do Salafis hold weekly reminders in masjids?

Sheikh Rashād Adh-Dhali'ee hafidahullah said: Gathering people in masjids and conveying to them the words of Allāh and the words of His Messenger is the practice of the prophets. In the long narration of Al-Ḥārith Al-Ashʿarī, reported by Aḥmad, At-Tirmidhī, and others, concerning the story of Yaḥyā ibn Zakarīyā, it is mentioned that Allāh commanded him with five directives: that he act upon them and that he command the Children of Isrā'īl to act upon them. It is said that Yaḥyā delayed in conveying these directives to the people, so ʿĪsā—who was his cousin, and who lived in the same time and place—said to him, “Either you deliver them, or we shall deliver them.” He told him, “These are words with which Allāh has commanded you; either you convey them to the Children of Isrā'īl, or we shall convey them.” Yaḥyā replied, “I fear that if you precede me, the earth will swallow me or I will be punished for failing to convey the words of Allāh.” So Yaḥyā ibn Zakarīyā set an appointment with the Children of Isrā'īl for a certain day in Bayt Al-Maqdis. They gathered, and the masjid was filled to the point that they sat in its galleries, and he conveyed to them these words. Thus, this is from the guidance of the prophets. It is also reported in Al-Bukhārī and Muslim, from Abū Saʿīd Al-Khudrī, that a woman said, “O Messenger of Allāh, the men have taken all your time for instruction; you are always with them. So appoint for us a day on which we may come to you.” He said, “Gather on such-and-such a day.” The women gathered, and the Prophet ﷺ came to them and taught them from what Allāh had taught him. Thus, both men and women were addressed. Gathering Muslims in the masjid and conveying to them the words of Allāh and His Messenger is, in and of itself, an act of worship, and it follows the path of the prophets and messengers, peace be upon them. This is also how the early generations proceeded. It is reported in Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī from Abū Wā’il that ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd used to remind us every Thursday. Every Thursday he would hold a gathering for exhortation and remembrance. They said to him, “O Abā ʿAbdirraḥmān, we wish you would remind us every day.” Ibn Masʿūd (may Allāh be pleased with him) replied, “I intentionally space out my admonitions to you, just as the Prophet ﷺ would space them out for us, out of fear that we would become weary.” Out of fear that they would tire if it were every day; instead, he set aside one day each week—Thursday—on which he taught them from what Allāh had taught him. By citing these evidences, I wished to draw attention to the fact that what Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamāʿah do in these gatherings—bringing people together in the masjid, allowing the people of the area and those who visit them to attend, and having someone remind them of some of the words of Allāh and His Messenger—is precisely what the prophets of Allāh practiced, what the early generations of this Ummah practiced, and what the scholars after them continued upon. We remain, by Allāh’s grace, steadfast upon this path, and this is our call. So we praise Allāh, exalted is He, for this blessed favor, that He has allowed us to follow the path of His prophets and messengers, peace be upon them. What a blessed path it is! For Allāh the Exalted said to His Prophet: “They are those whom Allāh has guided; so follow their guidance.” Follow their guidance, their way, and what they adhered to. https://t.me/masjidsahabah/1260