Etiquette of clearing walkways for ease of others (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

One doesn't have to tell others that he is a Muslim. Rather, one's outward behaviour should be so pleasing and refreshing that others should realize that he has been groomed well and knows the etiquette of living and easing living off others. 

We share today a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which is about the etiquette of clearing walkways for ease of others. This Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah (Book # 33 Etiquette كتاب الأدب / Chapter # 7 What Removing a harmful thing from the road  باب إِمَاطَةِ الأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ ) as Hadith number # 3681 

It was narrated that Abu Barzah Al-Aslami said:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ أَبَانَ بْنِ صَمْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْوَازِعِ الرَّاسِبِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ أَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ اعْزِلِ الأَذَى عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ‏" Muslims, and create hurdles for others. ‏‏.‏

"O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of an action by which I may benefit.' He said: 'Remove harmful things from the path of the Muslims.'"

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) 

This a simple advice by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, yet it has far reaching effect on the wellbeing of the community. We often come across stones and other distracting things littered on the walkways and many a times we simply ignore the menace these could cause for someone who doesn't see these and stumbles, getting hurt in the process. Although the ease for Muslims has been mentioned in the Hadith, this does not mean that one clears walkways frequented by Muslims, say walkway to the masjid or madrassa, and make it inconvenient for others. Etiquette must be applicable for everyone's ease.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our exclusive reference page Etiquettes taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more etiquettes attributed to Prophet Muhammad.

You may also refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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Posted in: Etiquettes,Hadith