Editorial | Friday Special: Tread Roads With Care!

In an explanation of the Islamic rights, establishment of new social rules and confirmation to the comprehensive approach that Islam preached, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was once among his companions and said, “Avoid sitting on roadsides.” His Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), there is no other alternative but to sit there to talk.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said, “If you have to sit at all, then fulfill the rights of the road.” They asked: “What are its rights?” Thereupon he said, “Lowering the gaze (so that you may not stare at unlawful things); refraining from doing some harm to others, responding to greeting (i.e., saying ‘Wa`alaikumus- salam‘ to one another) and commanding the good and forbidding the evil.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. This great hadith demonstrates an aspect of Islam’s care for infusing mutual respect and safeguarding the Muslim community against corruption. The hadith is rather a strong Islamic scream and impediment against the spread of different kinds of harassment, which became today’s unbearable universal disease. At the beginning, the Prophet (peace be upon him) wished to prevent people from sitting on roadsides where they are supposed to haphazardly mingle which may lead to undesirable outcomes. They told him that doing so is impossible, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) set the guidelines that protect people’s dignities and block the ways to the proceeding harm. These instructions are titled “rights of the road” that have to be observed while one is on the road. Some of these rights include: The right of lowering the gaze, The right of not causing harm, The right of responding to the greetings, The right of enjoining good and forbidding evil, The right of removing harm from the road, The right of guiding the passerby, The right of refraining from excretion or urination in the roads, The right of helping people in lifting their bags.