Some Rights of The Road When We Decide to Sit Outside Cafés or The Masjid, Especially During Summer

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Umar [may Allah be pleased with him] said that Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Beware of sitting on the roads (i.e. the pavements, pathways where people pass by)! But if you must sit, then fulfill the rights of the road”. They asked, “What are the rights of the road?” He said, “Lower the gaze, respond to Salaam, and give directions to the one who has lost his way”.

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated:

This hadith of the Prophet contains guidance for the entire Ummah. First, they should avoid sitting on the roads (pavements, pathways, etc.) because different people walk past them. Sitting on the road comes with obligations to fulfill and certain prohibited actions to steer clear of. Secondly, it is permissible to sit, but one doing so is required to fulfill the rights of the roads, adhere to what is commanded, and stay away from what is forbidden.

Indeed, the Prophet made known the rights of the road in this hadeeth, saying, “Lower your gaze”. The women and others walk past, therefore it is obligatory to divert one’s gaze away from every Haram, and first and foremost that one is not to look at strange women. [Footnote a]

“Reply to Salaam”. When a passer-by gives Salaams, it is obligated to you to respond because Allah said:

[وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ۬ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحۡسَنَ مِنۡہَآ أَوۡ رُدُّوهَآ‌ۗ – When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally] [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayah 86] [Footnote b]

“Guide the one who has lost his way”. Not every person knows the right way. It may be that some people are unaware of the way to get to the place they want to go to, so if they ask you for advice that you give him directions and you know where the place is, it is obligated to you to give him directions. You should make an effort to give them directions because Allah continues to aid a slave as long as the slave helps his Muslim brother. [1]

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Footnote a: Al-Alaa Bin Ziyaad [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Do not allow your eyes to follow the garment of a woman because one’s gaze places desire in the heart”. [Az-Zuhd By Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah). 311]

Footnote b: Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burjess [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Imam Ibn Abdul Barr [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: “The obligation of returning the Islamic greeting is (found in the) statement: [وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا – When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally]”. [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayah 86]

Imam Ibn Kathir [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “To give the Islamic greeting is voluntary and it is an obligation to return it. This is what all the scholars say that it is obligated to the one who is given the Salaam to reply and he has sinned if he does not reply because he has opposed Allah’s command”.

To abandon returning the Islamic greeting is an evil and ugly deed and many people have been afflicted with it in this era. They are prevented from it due to pride and self-amazement. So, we gently say to all of them, “Who are you?! What are you from?!” Allah says:

مِنۡ أَىِّ شَىۡءٍ خَلَقَهُ ۥ
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُ ۥ فَقَدَّرَهُ ۥ

From what thing did He create him? From Nutfah (male and female semen drops) He created him and then set him in due proportion. [Abasa: Ayaat: 17-18]

Are you greater in status than the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]? Indeed, he returned the Islamic greeting of the young, the old, the free person, and the slave, and he also greeted them. Therefore, let there be a good example in the Messenger of Allah for you to follow. We ask Allah for guidance and success for all. Also when a person is leaving a gathering and gives the Salaam, it is obligatory to reply to him. [An Excerpt from Al-Ilaam Bi-Badi Ahkaam As-Salaam’- pages 11-12]

Replying to The Greetings of non-Muslims. Read the article by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allah preserve him]
https://abukhadeejah.com/how-to-conduct-oneself-with-the-jews-christians-others-even-if-they-be-tyrants/

[1] At-Taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah 1/158