A Hadeeth about not giving non-Muslims priority on a narrow road

21-9-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum, There is a hadith that says that Prophet asked to push the jews to the narrowest part of the road when we walk on the road. What is the meaning of the hadith and will it not be not against human rights?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

This meaning was reported in a Saheeh [sound] Hadeeth from the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but this Hadeeth does not mean to make the road narrow for them, as this is harming them and we are prohibited from doing so. Rather, its meaning is that a Muslim should not honor them by giving way to them when meeting them [on a narrow road] or by giving them priority when passing and the like, because whoever disbelieves in Allaah and belies His Messengers does not deserve to be honored with this kind of honor. For more benefit, we will quote for you the statement of Al-Qurtubi about the meaning of this Hadeeth, as he said in his book entitled "Al-Mufhim Limaa Ashkala Min Talkhees Muslim": "And the Prophet’s saying “And when you meet any one of them [i.e. the Jews and the Christians] on the road, force him to go to the narrowest part of it” means not to give them priority on a narrow way as an honor and respect for them. Based on this, this sentence would be appropriate to the first sentence [of this Hadeeth]: “Do not initiate Salaam (the Islamic greeting) with the Jews and the Christians when meeting them” in meaning and coordination; however, it does not mean that when meeting them on a wide road, we are supposed to force them to go to its side in order to make the road narrow for them; as this is harming them for no reason, and we are forbidden from harming them."

Allaah Knows best.