The Etiquette of Students Entering an Islamic Study Assembly

There is an etiquette that a student or santri must observe when entering a class or assembly. Hadratussyekh KH Hasyim Asyari, in his book Adab al Alim wa al Mutaalim, writes that a santri should begin by offering a greeting of peace to those present in the assembly. The greeting should be uttered with a voice that can be heard clearly, especially if the teacher is present. The student must therefore show respect and honour to the teacher. The same applies when a santri wishes to leave the assembly.

Kiai Hasyim Asyari explains that when a student offers a greeting in an assembly, he should not step over people already seated there to get closer to the teacher. He should sit at the spot where he arrives, unless the teacher or the other attendees ask him to come forward, in which case there is no issue with the student advancing past those present in the assembly.

A student must not take another person’s seat or deliberately jostle for space, and if someone else offers him their seat, he should not accept it unless there is a clear benefit that is also recognised by others. Alternatively, acceptance is permissible if many people would benefit from his proximity to the teacher, enabling him to clarify a problem, or if the newcomer is an elderly or influential person.

Kiai Hasyim Asyari stresses that a student or santri must not sit in the middle of the gathering, in front of someone unless forced to, or between two companions unless they willingly allow it, nor should he sit in a position above someone more honourable than himself.

When discussing a lesson, a santri should gather with his friends so that when the teacher explains the subject, the lesson material can be received completely and without disruption.