Khutbah Title: The Rights and Etiquette of the Roadway

Khateeb’s Name: Sheykh Saalih ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn Humayd

Al-Masjid Al-Haraam

First Khutbah :

To proceed:

O people, fear Allaah The Almighty, adhere to His Commands and thank Him for His Graces. The greatest and most important of such graces is guiding us to this religion. In this regard, Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {Rather, Allaah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith} [Al-Hujuraat: 17]

My fellow Muslim, the laws of Islam have encompassed all aspects and affairs of life. They also have organized all what one may want from the cradle to grave.

The religion that is made to build a nation that has a message to remain pioneering and ideal example is surely valid for every time and place. Actually, religion of Islam does leave any matter whether in the public or specific conduct except it has addressed it in the best way.

There is no wonder that the instructions of Islam and rulings of the Sharee‘ah (Islamic revealed laws) intervene to organizing society, in every minor or major matter, in its individuals or groups and in all of its affairs. The writing of the scholars of Islam in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and manners are still full of wisdom and rulings in an original thought, deep contemplation, travelling in understanding the real life, affairs of humans, policy of the society, along with real examples and magnificent biographies, and great applications throughout the great history of the Islamic nation.

What proves the comprehensiveness of this religion and its clear wisdom and rulings is what is outlined in the Noble Quran, honorable Sunnah, and the heritage of the nation regarding the etiquette of the road, assemblies of the market, rights of the passers and the etiquette of the group. Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.} [Al-Furqaan: 63]   

He The Almighty also says (what means): {And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, "For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.} [Al-Qasas: 55]   

He The Almighty also says (what means): {And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned. And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. All that - its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested.} [Al-Israa’: 36-38]

As for the honorable Sunnah, Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “Beware of sitting in the roadways.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, we must have places where we can sit and talk together.” The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “If you must sit there, then give the roadway its rights.” They asked, “What are the rights of the roadway, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Lowering the eye, refraining from causing annoyance, returning the greeting, commanding the right and forbidding the wrong.” [Reported by both Al-Bukhaari and Muslim and this wording was reported by Muslim]

In another Hadeeth that was reported by At-Tirmithi, Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, and Ibn Hibaan that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, has counted some different acts of goodness saying: “Your smiling in the face of your brother is a charity; enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is a charity; your guiding a man that has lost his way is a charity; your leading of the blind is a charity; your removing of stones, thorns, and bones from people’s paths is a charity; and your putting some of the water from your bucket in your brother's bucket is a charity for you.”

The authentic sources of Sharee‘ah are full of these texts that establish firmly these rights and rationalizing this etiquette.

The servants of the Most Merciful are the best of humans. They walk upon the road easily, without any pretentious, nor arrogance, nor haughtiness. They walk in a way that indicates a balanced personality, sound and satisfied soul which its characteristics appear in the walking of its owner. They walk in solemnity, tranquility, seriousness, strength, and away from any form of humiliation and disgrace, imitating the first and best example i.e. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him, who does not raise his voice in markets and adopts a moderate way of walking. He has the fastest, best and most tranquil way of walking as the describers described him. This is the walking of those who have strong determination, resolution and bravery. He goes on fulfilling his intentions in vitality and straightness. He does not turn his cheek away haughtily from mankind, and does not walk in the earth merrily. While walking, he does not do any noise nor does intend to compete with anyone, and although they compete him, he adopts the best manners. He respects himself in great morals and high manners. He does not walk like the way of tyrants nor ignorant. He walks in an easy way that is suitable for the mercy of the servants of the Most Merciful i.e. Allaah The Almighty. When he is walking along with a group of friends, he does not proceed so that people may not walk behind him, now does he ride so that the others may not walk on foot.

As for lowering voice, it is one of the characteristics of those who have the best moral standards. They do this while walking and thus it is more right to be in their speech. It is the title of having self-confidence and truthful speech, strong argument that is accompanied with patience, forgiving, caring not about the idle speech and talking, avoiding the foolishness of the foolish and the silliness of the silly.

No one raises his voice except the one who is ill-mannered who has weak argument, who wants to conceal his imprudence through his loud voice and harsh words.

My fellow Muslim, lowering gaze can be added to this. Actually, this is a basic right for the people of the road i.e. both who pass and those who sit on the road. This will preserve their sacredness and honors. That is because gazing is the route to and harbingers of sins. In spite of all of such things, you may find some people in roads and markets give free rein to his eyes, carrying all stimulations and elements of desire. Also, they may follow this with fatal words and signals that can destroy religion, bashfulness, chivalry and chastity.  

Removing harm away from roads is one of the most important rights. The word of harm actually includes all what can cause worry to Muslim individual whether it is a word or deed. It was narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “I saw a man enjoying himself in Paradise because he cut down a tree that was harming people which was in the middle of a path.” [Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh]

Moreover, it was narrated that Abu Barzah, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, to teach him something so that he may derive benefit from it. Upon this he, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Remove the troublesome thing from the paths of the Muslims.” [Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh]

It was also reported in another narration that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Once a man was walking down a road when he came upon a branch of thorns in the middle of the way. He moved it to one side and cleared the path, so Allaah was grateful to him and forgave him.” [Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh]

If this great reward is for those who remove harmful matters, then how will be the punishment of the one who deliberately harms Muslims in their roads and assemblies, bring to them filthy matters and spread rubbish in their parks and places under which they seek shade.

At-Tabaraani reported on the authority of Huthayfah ibn Usayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Whoever offends Muslims in their roads deserves their curses.” [Hasan Saheeh (good and authentic) Hadeeth]

In another Hadeeth reported by Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Fear the two things that bring curses.” They asked, “What are the two things that bring curses, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “When a person relieves himself in the road where people walk or in the place where they seek shade.”

My fellow Muslim, as for spreading greeting of Salaam (peace) i.e. whether saying it first or answering it, it is a noble manner which the children of Islam has and a right that they preserve for their brother. Actually, it instills love, plants affection, washes hatred, removes hostilities, and brings the Pleasure and Forgiveness of Allaah The Almighty. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of that which will strengthen love between you? Spread (the greeting of) Salaam amongst yourselves.” [Reported by Muslim]

My fellow Muslim, what can encompass all of such etiquette and rights is the following comprehensive sentence: enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad. This really includes all noble and good moral standards and chivalries.

The load is very heavy to the one who carry it, so you should help him. You should guide the wayfarer who went astray with a word that is full of good manners and a sign that is full of kindness and leniency, away from any hardness or restlessness. You should not say nor should you articulate obscenities. You should also know that cheerfulness and smiling at the face of your Muslim brother is from charities.

Help the one who has something to carry, left and put it with him. If you carry something, then take care to cause harm to someone. Strive to settle disputes among disputing parities, reconcile between people, preserve Luqatah (i.e. property that the owner loses and a person finds and takes away to preserve it in trust), guide to the lost object, help to restore rights to its owners, defend the honors of Muslims, prevent and restrain the oppressors and support and help the oppressed.

Do not cause harm to anyone. Do not talk ill of anyone. Do not laugh at or scorn the passers. Do not point with your fingertips. Do not insult anyone. Do not belittle any young person. Do not laugh at anyone who has a physical disability. Do not sit at the bottleneck of the roads, and doors, crowd places. This is actually affirmed while deriving different forms of vehicles, observing completely the rights of those who are walking, riding and sitting. Neglecting all of such things cause great corruption to all Muslims.

This is the nation of good morals and manners:

There are some people who use roads and markets as clubs in which they spread their chairs to look at the exposed intimate parts of the people, defame honors, and cause embarrassment to those who have good morals and chivalries. They are curious, putting their noses in what do not concern them.

They look at walkers with their eyes and slander them with their tongues as Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip - A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful, Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender. Because he is a possessor of wealth and children.} [Al-Qalam: 11-14]   

It is not permissible for those people to make their places dens from which the prohibited gazes can be extended, and a route to vices and suspicious appointments. It was reported that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said regarding the saying of Allaah The Almighty: {…commit in your meetings [every] evil…} [Al-‘Ankaboot: 29], hurl walkers with stones and laugh at them and this is the evil that they were doing.”[Reported by Imam Ahmad from the Hadeeth of Umm Haan’, may Allaah be pleased with her]

Such of these meeting should be avoided by noble and chivalrous people to walk in; rather sitting in them. Such markets concerned no one but evil people who do not experience embarrassment from obscenities nor do they know decency.

My fellow Muslim, who do not give the road its right, then he follows his own desires and wants to fill his eyes with what he likes. In this way, one will humiliate himself after he was honored, he will be Faasiq  after he was chaste, and he will decline after he was perfect. If the etiquette of Islam is not observed in such places, then they will be a conducive environment for backbiting, talebearing, mockery, lying and clear falsehood. 

I seek refuge in Allaah from Satan the outcast. Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allaah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."} [Luqmaan: 17-19]   

Second Khutbah

All perfect praise is due to Allaah The Almighty for the graces He bestowed and granted upon us. I praise and thank Allaah The Almighty and repent to Him and seek his forgiveness from the countless sins and misdeeds. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear witness that our master and Prophet Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; what a great messenger and what a honored slave. Peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him, his household and his companions who were the best, sounded and guided in manner, the followers and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection. 

To proceed:

O servants of Allaah, fear Allaah The Almighty and know that the best manner and most honorable action is that one keeps himself busy with making great deal of Remembering Allaah The Almighty. Actually, this implied stimulations to all goodness, help on fulfilling acts of worship, performing rights and preserving soul from the devil. It was narrated on the authority of Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Whoever says (i.e. at leaving his home) Bismillaahi, tawakkaltu ‘alallaahi, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata ’ illaa billaah (In the Name of Allaah, I have placed my trust in Allaah, there is no might and no power except by Allaah), it will be said to him, ‘This will take care of you, you are guided, you have what you need, you are protected and the devil will stay away from him.” [Reported by At-Tirmithi, Abu Daawood and others and the wording is for At-Tirmithi who deemed it Saheeh (authentic) Hadeeth]

Also, one should not neglect the reported invocation when leaving his home: “Allaahumma ’innee ’a‘oothu bika ’an ’adhilla, ’aw ’udhalla, ’aw ’azilla, ’aw ’uzalla, ’aw ’athlima, ’aw ’uthlama, ’aw ’ajhala ’aw yujhala ‘alayya (O Allaah, I seek refuge in You lest I misguide others, or I am misguided by others, lest I cause others to err or I am caused to err, lest I abuse others or be abused, and lest I behave foolishly or meet with the foolishness of others).” [Reported by the four compliers of Sunan and the wording is for Abu Daawood]

If woman really needs to go out of her house, then let her go out in decent clothes, bashful in her way of walking, away from the suspicious movements, places of accusations, not wearing perfume, not looking here and there, and return quickly to her home after fulfilling her needs. Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.)} [An-Noor: 31] 

O dear Muslims, fear Allaah The Almighty and adhere firmly to the etiquette of your religion and preserve the rights of your brothers and sisters.

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