The rights of the roads

  

The rights of the road

 

Islam has given principles, rules and etiquette for each and every aspect of life.  Sitting on the roads or bazaars and whiling away hours in talking is nothing but a waste of time and is also a source of trouble and harm to the passersby.  For this reason, hanging about the on the roads without any permissible reason is not permitted.  If one has to remain on the road for business or for similar reasons, then it is stressed that one should fulfill the rights of the road.  As mentioned in this Hadith of Zujaajatul Masabeeh:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:   The Companions asked:  What are the rights of the road, O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  He said:  Lower your gaze, removing hurtful things from the path, returning the greeting of Salaam, enjoin good and forbid evil.  It is mentioned in another narration:  You help the oppressed and guide those who are lost.  (Zujaajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 7)

 

Spending hours together on the roads and/or bazaars in just talking is a grave waste of time.  Time is a very valuable bounty about which we have been ordered to use it for virtue.

 

A Hadith is related in Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Umr bin Maimoon Audi (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) advised a person in the words:  You consider 5 things as a respite before 5 others.  Youth before old age, health before disease, affluence before penury, leisure before engagements, life before death.  (Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh, Pg. No. 443)

 

Urinating on the road

 

We see in our country that oftentimes people urinate in a corner of the road.  What does Islam say about it?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has declared removing a hurtful thing from the path as a branch of faith.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: Faith has 70 and some branches or 60 and some branches.  Thus, the most excellent branch is saying, "Laa Ilaaha Illallah…" and the least excellent branch is removing a hurtful thing from the path and modesty is a great branch of faith.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 162)

 

Urinating/defecating on the path, which people use, is a source of harm for them.  This creates pollution and spreads diseases.  In light of this, urinating/defecating on the road is Undesirable (Makruh).

 

However, there is an allowance to relieve oneself away from the population in a plain or the like, as there the chance of spreading diseases is negligible and people also don’t consider it to be wrong.

 

As given in Noor Ul Eezaah, Pg. No. 32.

 

And Allah Most High knows best.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi

 

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder-Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]