Hazrat Bara bin Azib narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by a gathering of the Ansar and said: If you insist on sitting, then show the right path (to the traveler), respond to greetings, and help the oppressed.

Hazrat Malik bin Tihan narrates that a group of us gathered in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him! We are people from the lower and upper parts of the city. We sit in these gatherings, so what do you command us regarding this? He said: Give the gatherings their due rights. We asked: What is their right? He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Lower your gaze, respond to greetings, guide the blind, enjoin good, and forbid evil.

Hazrat Abu Talha narrates that we were sitting in an open courtyard when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by us. He said: Why do you hold gatherings on the roads? Avoid gatherings on the roads. We said: O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him! We sit without committing any sin, we only converse and talk among ourselves. He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Then give the gatherings their due rights. We asked: O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him! What are the rights of the gatherings? He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Lowering the gaze, responding to greetings, and speaking in the best manner.

Imam Sha’bi narrates that since Hazrat Rabi’ bin Khuthaym tied his waist-wrapper, he never sat in any gathering, and he said: I fear that someone might be wronged and I may not be able to help him, or someone might falsely accuse another and I may be made responsible to testify, and I may not be able to lower my gaze, or I may not be able to show the way to a traveler, or if a rider falls, I may not be able to help him mount again.

Hazrat Awam narrates that Hazrat Abu Al-Huzail said: When the companions would hold gatherings, they disliked ignoring the foolish ones.