Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
It is human nature that when a person sees something desirable to eat or drink, he develops a desire to consume it. Similarly, when a person sees a non-mahram woman, a carnal urge may arise, or at the very least, the person is certainly afflicted with restlessness at that moment. Therefore, in such circumstances, a Muslim is commanded to guard his gaze.

In the Noble Qur’an, both women and men have been separately commanded to lower their gazes. If someone’s gaze falls accidentally, he is instructed to turn his eyes away. Thus, it is narrated from Jarir bin Abdullah radi Allahu anhu that he said: I asked the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about an accidental glance, and he replied: “I have been commanded to turn my gaze away.” (Musnad Ahmad: 4/358)

Peeping into someone’s house is such a grave offense that if the owner of the house, as retribution for this crime, were to injure the eye of the one peeping with anything, there would be no liability upon him. (Musnad Ahmad: 5/181)

(2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah, in light of other narrations, has identified fourteen matters related to the rights of the road. Their details are as follows:
➊ Lowering the gaze.
➋ Refraining from causing harm to others.
➌ Responding to greetings (salam).
➍ Enjoining good deeds.
➎ Forbidding evil deeds.
➏ Helping those in distress.
➐ Guiding a lost traveler.
➑ Responding to a sneeze.
➒ Assisting the oppressed.
➓ Spreading the greeting of salam.
⓫ Helping someone carrying a burden.
⓬ Speaking kindly.
⓭ Engaging abundantly in the remembrance of Allah.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has compiled these matters into three Arabic verses. (Fath al-Bari: 11/16)

Hadith Commentary:
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has composed the etiquettes of the road in poetic form in Bahr Taweel as follows:
"I have compiled the etiquettes for one who intends to sit on the roads, from the sayings of the best of creation, the human being (i.e., the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): Spread peace (give salam), speak well, supplicate for the one who sneezes when he says 'alhamdulillah' by saying 'yarhamuk Allah', return kindness with kindness, assist those carrying burdens, help the oppressed, respond to the distressed, guide the Muslims and those who are lost, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, refrain from causing harm, lower your gaze, and frequently remember our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted."

That is, from the Prophetic ahadith, I have compiled for the person who intends to sit on the roads the etiquettes: reply to salam, speak good words, when someone sneezes and says 'alhamdulillah', supplicate for him with 'yarhamuk Allah', repay kindness with kindness, help those carrying burdens, assist the oppressed, listen to the plea of the distressed, guide Muslims and those who are lost, enjoin good deeds, forbid evil, refrain from harming anyone, keep your gaze lowered, and frequently remember our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted. Whoever fulfills these rights, it is permissible for him to sit on the roads.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
According to one narration, guiding a blind person on the road, responding to a sneeze, and helping the weak and feeble are also included among the rights of the road.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Al-Adab, Hadith: 4817, 4816)
It is thus understood that sitting outside the homes in a gathering place (chopal) is not forbidden (haram); the prohibition is only because it causes inconvenience to the public.

(2)
The intent here is to block the path to evil; on this basis, people should choose such gatherings for sitting where they do not witness reprehensible and disliked matters, nor hear things whose listening is religiously prohibited.
Sitting in front of shops to watch television or listen to songs is forbidden (haram).
One may benefit from these shops while remaining within the bounds of the Shariah, but if it causes harm to the public or involves unlawful (ghayr shar‘i) matters, then sitting there is not permissible.
And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade the Companions (radi Allahu anhum) from sitting on the pathways as a means of blocking the means (sadd al-dhari‘ah), that is, for the protection and prevention from harms. However, when they presented their excuse that they had no other place for mutual conversation, then he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) taught them the etiquettes of sitting on the pathway, the number of which is fourteen.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has mentioned them in verse:

Spreading the greeting of peace (afsh al-salam),
Speaking well,
Supplicating for the one who sneezes,
Returning the greeting in a better way,
Helping in carrying burdens,
Assisting and aiding the oppressed,
Helping the needy and the distressed,
Guiding the way,
Giving gifts to neighbors,
Enjoining what is right,
Forbidding what is wrong,
Refraining from causing harm,
Lowering the gaze,
And remembering our Lord abundantly.

Make the greeting of peace common,
Speak well,
Supplicate for the one who sneezes and respond to the greeting in a better way,
Help in carrying burdens,
Assist the oppressed,
Help the needy and distressed,
Show the way and give gifts to companions,
Enjoin good,
Forbid evil,
Refrain from causing harm,
Lower your gaze,
And remember Allah Ta‘ala abundantly.

Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah), while explaining “refrain from causing harm,” writes:

Backbiting,
Having bad suspicion,
Considering any of the passersby as insignificant,
Narrowing the pathway,
All of these are included in it.

Similarly, if those sitting cause the passersby to feel intimidated, or they are afraid of them and, due to fear, cannot pass for their work, even though this is the only passage, then this too is a harmful matter.

Takhrij:
«أخرجه البخاري، الاستئذان، باب قول الله تعالي: "يأيها الذين آمنوا لا تدخلوا..."، حديث:6229، ومسلم، الباس والزينة، باب النهي عن الجلوس في الطرقات...،حديث:2121.»©Explanation:
➊ This hadith establishes the prohibition of sitting and storytelling in pathways where people pass by.
➋ What kind of decency is it to sit in alleys and narrow the way for passersby?
Women also come and go on the roads.
Inevitably, this creates difficulty for them.
In addition to this, there are issues related to traffic.
If sitting on the pathway becomes a necessity, then fulfilling its rights is obligatory, as has been mentioned above.