Riyad as-Salihin, 190

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Beware of sitting on roads (ways)." The people said: "We have but them as sitting places." Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If you have to sit there, then observe the rights of the way". They asked, "What are the rights of the way?" He (ﷺ) said, "To lower your gaze (on seeing what is illegal to look at), and (removal of harmful objects), returning greetings, enjoining good and forbidding wrong". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

السابع‏:‏ عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏إياكم والجلوس في الطرقات‏"‏ فقالوا ‏:‏ يا رسول الله ما لنا من مجالسنا بد؛ نتحدث فيها‏!‏ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏فإذا أبيتم إلا المجلس فأعطوا الطريق حقه‏"‏ قالوا‏:‏ وما حق الطريق يا رسول الله‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏غض البصر وكف الأذى ورد السلام، والأمر بالمعروف ، والنهي عن المنكر‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 190

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) Sitting on the roads is forbidden given the obvious consequent evil. 2) Lowering the gaze is an act of worship which is obligatory on whoever sits on the road. 3) Refraining from causing harm to people, whether by word or action, is obligatory. 4) Spreading the greeting of peace among Muslims inspires affection within their hearts. 5) Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a requirement for sitting on the road.

Related hadiths8