Assalaam Alaykum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuh
Oh Muslims! The fear of Allah is the virtue of all goodness and thanking Him for His grace is douth. The utmost of His grace is favouring us with the path of the blessed ones — the religion of Islam.
Allah says;
“Rather, Allah has conferred favour upon you that He has guided you to the faith}” [Al-Hujraat: 17]
It is no gainsaying on the part of every subservient servant of Allah that His commandments should be our utmost regard. Premised on this, Allah legislates on all the affairs of Muslims which no gray area can we lay our hands on. He enjoins the need to seek knowledge, which its understanding fashions a brilliant atmospheric well-being of all Muslims.
It is fundamentally established in Islam that the wisdom and rulings of footpath and etiquette both in the Quran and words of our beloved Prophet are more than what this century could consume.
Allah says;
“And the servants the most Merciful are those who walk on earth easily, and when the ignorant address them (harshly) they say peace” [Al furqan: 63]
Likewise the Prophet of Allah (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) was reported to have said; “Beware of sitting in the roadway. They say; Oh Messenger of Allah , we must have places where we can sit and talk together. The Messenger of Allah said, if you must sit there then give the roadway its right.. They asked what is the right of the roadway oh Messenger of Allah. He said lowering, refraining from causing annoyance, returning the greetings, commanding the right and forbidden the wrong”[Reported in Bukhari and Muslim]
In another Hadith, the Prophet (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) was also reported saying; “your smiling in the face is a charity, enjoining the good and forbidden the evil is a charity, your guiding a man that has lost his way is a charity, your leading the blind is a charity, your removing of stones, thorns and bones from people’s path is a charity and you putting some water from your bucket in your brother’s bucket is a charity for you”.
The above cited authorities are some Islamic ethics as regards footpaths. To every Muslim, our modern day society has been driving us long away from our ideal Islamic sense of reasoning to what we call an organic sense of Western distortion. We tend to jettison our diamond for the pebbly desires of this world without paying attention to the gradual extinction of our Islamic etiquettes, one of which is the theme of this write up. Everyone who professes Islam is expected to inculcate these etiquettes as a means to ease peace and tranquillity in the society at large.
Allah says:
“Those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish worship and pay poor due (Zakat) , their reward is with Allah and no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve”.[Al- Baqarah:277].
It is thus evident that Allah enjoins the roadway be given its right, the following will serve as an outline of Islamic etiquettes while using the footpath. Muslim males and females alike are expected to be modest and walk with dignity by avoiding stamping the feet while using the footpath in order to preserve the identity of an ideal Muslim. Offering the Tasleem (word of peace) to every Muslim without differences and also replying to same.
The Prophet said; “ you will not enter paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you llove one another. Shall I tell you that which will strengthen love between you? Spread (the greeting of )Salam among yourselves. Reported by Muslim..
Tasleem should be given preference with regard to greeting while using the footpath (as well as other places). Lowering the gaze while using the roadway. Allah says:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest . that is purer for them lo! God is aware of what they do” [An Nur: 24].
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest…” [An Nur: 25]
Allah instructs all believers to lower their gaze as a safeguard for preserving their modesty and chastity, to fall victim of Shaytan’s evil whispers and plots as man will account and be rewarded for every bit of his actions as evidenced in surah al Zalzalah verses 7 and 8.
Neither should a footpath serve as a rendezvous nor should it be for unnecessary prolong greetings.
Muslims should avoid walking arrogantly and proudly as a result of their status or calibre in the society.
Removing all forms of harmful objects without underrating any from the footpath for even this is a sign of Iman. The Prophet said ; “Iman has more than seventy branches. The most excellent among it is saying that there is no God but Allah and the smallest of it is to remove an obstacle from the wayside. And Haya(modesty) is an important branch of Iman”[ Reported in Bukhari]
Showing ways to travellers or visitors in your environment, Helping those in hardship and avoid sitting on the roadway.
Moreover, women should avoid walking in the center of the road because this may involve wanton display and they should prevent their adornment from being revealed.
Without limitations to any, Muslims are expected to be the agents of appropriate social change, the tools for an environmental orderliness through their ideal knowledge of truth from falsehood, modest from obscene changing every community to a better one. It is on this note that I raise my pen and submit that; when we learn, we should practise and keep on striving for steadfastness. May Allah root our feet on the path of righteousness. Aameen.
Assalaam Alaykum WarahmatuLlahi wa bbarakaatuh
Written by: Hassan Taiwo Monsuru (Abu Abdir Rahman bn Hassan)
