Avoid sitting on roadsides
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri, May Allah be pleased with him, said:
The Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, "Avoid sitting on roadsides." His Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, there is no other alternative but to sit there to talk." Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, "If you insist on that, then fulfill the rights of the road." They asked: "What are their rights?" Thereupon he said, "Lowering the gaze (so that you may not stare at unlawful things); refraining from doing harm to others, responding to the greeting (i.e., saying 'Wa'alaikumus- salam…' to one another) and commanding the good and forbidding the evil."
Islam is keen on disciplining the Muslim community; therefore Islam spread the etiquettes of dealing with others, among them are the etiquettes of the assemblies, we previously discussed some of them, and in these lines we shall clarify some of the right of the road if the Muslims will sit on its sides.
The saying of the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, "Avoid sitting on roadsides." Is a threat warning against sitting on the roadside Because of the relevant harm they cause to themselves and to the passerby. Sitting on the roadsides causes one to look to women and smell their fragrance. Moreover, one may ridicule the handicapped and make fun of them; such manners that do not fit a Muslim.
Sitting on the roadsides will narrow the roads to pedestrians and limit their freedom to walk, especially women and children. However, sitting on the roads in itself is not fair and contradicts modesty, so there is no one who sits on the road except the scum of people, and the ignorant.
But there is nothing wrong with sit on the side of the road or in any place if one is obliged to do so because the necessities render prohibited matters lawful.
