Abu Talhah reported: We were sitting in the courtyards and open spaces, talking amongst ourselves, when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to us and stood over us. The Prophet said, “What is the matter with you and sitting in the roadways? Avoid sitting in the roadways.” We said, “We are only sitting here without causing trouble. We sit to discuss matters and talk.” The Prophet said, “If you must, then give the roadway its due rights: lowering the gaze, returning greetings of peace, and speaking kind words.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2161
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
Imam al-Nawawi commented, “As for kind words, it includes speaking well to one another in their conversations, such that there is no backbiting, gossip, lying, or speech that diminishes the chivalry of men, nor any other blameworthy forms of speech. It also includes how they speak to passersby: returning greetings of peace, replying gently, guiding others along the road, directing them toward what benefits them, and similar acts.”
Source: Sharḥ al-Nawawī ‘alá Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 14/142-143
عَنْ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ قَالَ كُنَّا قُعُودًا بِالْأَفْنِيَةِ نَتَحَدَّثُ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَامَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ مَا لَكُمْ وَلِمَجَالِسِ الصُّعُدَاتِ اجْتَنِبُوا مَجَالِسَ الصُّعُدَاتِ فَقُلْنَا إِنَّمَا قَعَدْنَا لِغَيْرِ مَا بَاسٍ قَعَدْنَا نَتَذَاكَرُ وَنَتَحَدَّثُ قَالَ إِمَّا لَا فَأَدُّوا حَقَّهَا غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ وَرَدُّ السَّلَامِ وَحُسْنُ الْكَلَامِ
2161 صحيح مسلم كتاب السلام باب من حق الجلوس على الطريق رد السلام
قال النووي وَأَمَّا حُسْنُ الْكَلَامِ فَيَدْخُلُ فِيهِ حُسْنُ كَلَامِهِمْ فِي حَدِيثِهِمْ بَعْضِهِمْ لِبَعْضٍ فَلَا يَكُونُ فِيهِ غِيبَةٌ وَلَا نميمة وَلَا كَذِبٌ وَلَا كَلَامٌ يُنْقِصُ الْمُرُوءَةَ وَنَحْوُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ الْمَذْمُومِ وَيَدْخُلُ فِيهِ كَلَامُهُمْ لِلْمَارِّ مِنْ رَدَّ السَّلَامِ وَلُطْفِ جَوَابِهِمْ لَهُ وَهِدَايَتِهِ لِلطَّرِيقِ وَإِرْشَادِهِ لِمَصْلَحَتِهِ وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ
14/142-143 شرح النووي على مسلم كتاب السلام باب من حق المسلم للمسلم رد السلام
