Manner of Sitting
1. Greet attendants of the meeting or gathering. It is stated by Allah’s Messenger(SAW): “If one comes to a meeting he should say: Assalamu Alaykum! (I.e. Peace be upon you!) And on leaving he should do the same, for the first greeting is not more important than latter.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
2. It is not appropriate to ask someone to leave his sitting place for someone else: “Never should anyone of you make someone rise from his place and sit in his place; rather, make more room for others to sit.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
3. “If someone leaves his sitting place then returns to it, he will have more right to it”, as stated by the Prophet (SAW)(SAW).” (Muslim)
4. Never separate two persons sitting: “It is not permissible for a man to separate two men (by inserting himself sitting between them) unless they give permission.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
5. Never talk to a friend privately in the presence of a third person: “If there are three of you, never should two of them talk without the third until you mix with other people, for this would grieve the third.” (Bukhari)
6. Never sit in the middle of a circle or group of people: “****ed is he who sits in the middle of a sitting group.” (Abu Dawud)
7. Leave space for others to sit: “O you who believe! When it is said, make room in assemblies, then make room; Allah will make way for you (hereafter). And when it is said, come up higher! Go up higher; Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks. Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.” (Surah Al-Mujadalah, 58: 11)
8. It is desirable to suppress yawning as far as possible as it is a sign of laziness: “Yawning is from Satan, so when one of you yawns let him try to repel it as far as possible, for if one utters ‘Ha!’ (When yawning) the devil will laugh at him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
9. About sneezing, the Prophet (SAW) says: “If one of you sneezes, let him say: Praise be to Allah! And his Muslim brother should say to him: May Allah have mercy on you! upon which he answers: May Allah guide you and make you well.” (Bukhari) It is also advisable for a person, as stated by Allah’s Messenger on the authority of Abu Hurairah, “on sneezing, to cover his mouth with his hand or garment and suppress his voice.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
10. Avoid belching while sitting in the presence of others. According to Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, one man belched in the presence of Allah’s Messenger(SAW), upon which the Messenger said to him: “stop belching, The biggest eaters in this worldly life will be the hungriest in the Hereafter.” (Tirmidhi Bin Majah)
11. The assembly should not be busy with nonsense or void of the remembrance of Allah and useful discussions of worldly and religious affairs. Allah’s messenger(SAW), said in this connection: “Any people who rise from an assembly in which the name of Allah is not mentioned are like those who rise from around a donkey’s carrion, and the assembly will be a source of sorrow for them.” (Abu Dawud)
12. A person should not face those sitting with him with what they dislike.