َ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَافْسَحُوا يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَإِذَا قِيلَ انْشُزُوا فَانْشُزُوا يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿۱۱﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ﴿۱۲﴾

﴾11﴿ Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo izaa qeela lakum tafassahoo fil majaalisi fafsahoo yafsahil laahu lakum wa izaa qeelan shuzoo fanshuzoo yarfa'il laahul lazeena aamanoo minkum wallazeena ootul 'ilma darajaat; wallaahu bimaa ta'maloona khabeer
﴾12﴿ Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanooo izaa naajitumur Rasoola faqaddimoo baina yadai najwaakum sadaqah; zaalika khairul lakum wa athar; fa il lam tajidoo fa innal laaha ghafoorur Raheem

﴾11﴿ O believers! When it is said to you, "Make room for one another in gatherings," then make room, so that Allah may grant you more space. And when it is said, "Rise up," then rise. Allah will elevate in rank those among you who believe and those who have been given knowledge, by many degrees. And Allah is fully aware of what you do
﴾12﴿ O believers! When you wish to hold a private conversation with the Messenger of Allah , then offer charity (sadaqah) beforehand. This is better for you and purer. But if you do not find (the means to give charity), then surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful

[11] This is the second etiquette for believers related to gatherings of private consultation. It emphasizes honoring and respecting companions due to their faith — especially giving greater honor and respect to scholars.
It implies that participants in gatherings and assemblies should not be treated equally; rather, scholars should be given higher ranks and positions.
“When it is said to you: Make room in assemblies” — “make room” means to sit in such a way that you do not block space for others. It does not mean to spread out and take up more space, preventing others from finding a seat.
“Assemblies” refers to general gatherings of remembrance, listening to sermons, consultation meetings, study circles, and the like.
“When it is said: Rise” — this means when the leader of the gathering instructs someone to stand to make space for a distinguished person, he should accept the instruction. Likewise, if ordered to rise for prayer, jihad, or any other good deed, the command should be followed.
Ibn Hajar, quoting Ibn Rushd, mentioned four types of standing:
1. Haram (prohibited): When someone, out of arrogance, demands others stand for him.
2. Makruh (disliked): When someone refrains from standing out of fear of resembling the arrogant or fearing pride may arise in his heart.
3. Permissible: When a person does not desire people to stand for him, but others do so out of respect.
4. Recommended: To stand for someone returning from travel, or to congratulate someone on a blessing, or to console someone in grief. For more detail, see Fatḥ al-Bārī, volume 11, page 54.
“Allah raises those who believe” — this indicates that faith is a cause of elevation.
“And those who have been given knowledge, by degrees” — there are two interpretations:
First, that elevation comes from faith, and then further degrees and ranks come through knowledge — indicating that elevation before Allah is due to faith and knowledge, not seniority in gatherings.
Second, that Allah elevates those who have both faith and knowledge in many degrees.
Qurṭubī wrote that “those who have been given knowledge” refers to the scholars of the Qur’an.
[12] This is the third rule and etiquette regarding private consultation (najwā). The purpose of this verse is to warn those who privately consulted the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) and to reveal the sincerity of those who did so.
The reason behind this was that hypocrites would engage in secret conversations with the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) without necessity, wasting his time and preventing other Muslims from having the opportunity to do so.
So Allah established this rule: whoever wishes to have a private conversation with the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) must first give charity — so that the sincerity of the one seeking private counsel becomes evident.
This ruling was specific to private consultation with the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace).
“But if you do not find [means]” — this refers to financial inability, meaning that the poor and needy are not obligated to give this charity.