1623 – Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Beware of sitting in the roadways.” They replied, “Messenger of Allah, we cannot do without the places where we sit and talk.” He said, “If you must sit, then give the road its right.” They asked, “And what is the right of the road, Messenger of Allah?” He answered, “Lowering the gaze, keeping from causing harm, returning the greeting of peace, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong.” Agreed upon.

1624 – Abu Ṭalḥah Zayd ibn Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We were sitting in the courtyards in front of our homes, talking, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came and stood over us. He said, ‘What is it with you and these elevated roadside gatherings?’ We said, ‘Messenger of Allah, we are only sitting for something harmless; we are recalling and discussing matters among ourselves.’ He replied, ‘If that is so, then give them their due: lower the gaze, return the greeting, and speak good words.’” Narrated by Muslim.

The word al-ṣaʿadāt, with both the ṣād and ʿayn pronounced with ḍamma, means “roadways.”

[Explanation]
After citing the Qur’anic verses that oblige the lowering of the gaze, the author—may Allah have mercy on him—followed them with several hadith, including the report of Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī and that of Zayd ibn Sahl. As for the first report, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Beware of sitting….”