on the roadways.’ This is a warning—that is, he was cautioning them against taking their seats along the thoroughfares. They replied, ‘Messenger of Allah, our gatherings—we cannot do without them.’ In those days they would sit in the open spaces in front of their houses, just as many people do today: a man sits in his courtyard, his neighbors join him, and they converse about whatever has occurred among them and about their religious or worldly concerns.

He said, ‘If you insist on that, then give the road its right,’ meaning: if you will not refrain from sitting and must do so, then discharge the road’s due. They asked, ‘And what is its right, Messenger of Allah?’ He, peace and blessings be upon him, enumerated them:

1. Lowering the gaze—that is, averting your eyes from the passers-by; do not stare at them or fix your eyes upon them. Some people sit along the roads and follow every passer-by with their eyes from the moment he appears until he disappears; this is contrary to the Prophet’s instruction. One must look away, especially when a woman passes, for lowering the gaze is obligatory for two reasons: because she is a woman, and because staring at any passer-by embarrasses and harms him.

2. Refraining from causing harm—do not harm anyone who passes, neither by word nor by deed: do not say something that offends him, nor do anything that narrows the way, such as stretching out your legs or lying down in the path, or anything similar.

3. Returning the greeting of peace—if someone says ‘al-salāmu ʿalaykum,’ you must reply, ‘wa-ʿalaykum al-salām.’ It is not enough to say, ‘Welcome,’ ‘Hello,’ or the like; the obligatory response must be given, as Allah says, ‘When you are greeted with a salutation, reply with one better than it, or return it [in kind]’ (Q 4:86).

4. Enjoining what is right—if you see a person falling short in something required of him