Islam teaches neighbouring rights over the other neighbours. Islam endeavours to stands alone to bolster the best for man and everything around in the worldly life and the Hereafter. Islamic social rights lie in the right of neighbours in Islam. It is the right that the Prophet (PBUH) adopted since the early days of his Prophethood. Allah has stressed special rights for neighbours more than others, including good treatment and kindness to him. Allah says:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
“And worship Allah And (do) not associate with Him anything, and to the (do) good, and with the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy and the neighbour (who is) near, and the neighbour (who is) farther away, and the companion by your side and the traveller and what possess[ed] your right hands. Indeed, Allah (does) not love (the one) who is [a] proud (and) [a] boastful.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:36 )
The rights of the neighbourhood are not meant for Muslim neighbours only. of course, a Muslim neighbour has one more claim upon us – that of Islamic brotherhood; but so far as the rights of neighbourship are concerned, all are equal. Islam lays great importance on keeping balance in a community through peace and care among one another, especially in the case of neighbours. Allah also commands his people to do good to the neighbours. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَىٰ بِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ
“Indeed, those who disbelieve[d] and died while they (are) disbelievers, then never will be accepted from any one of the earth full (of) gold [and] (even) if he offered it as ransom. Those – for them (is) a punishment painful and not (will be) for them any helpers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:91)
Do your best to your neighbours, help them and be kind. Make the rights and obligations of neighbours in the view of Islam to be learned in everyday life. If we carry out the advice given, then we will get a reward. Also, if we have neighbouring non-Muslims, still respect them only as neighbours, as has been taught by the Messenger of Allah to us. Do not mistake your neighbours once, be hostile or harmful to them. If we hurt our neighbour the threat is hell for us as Muslims.
Here are some rights of neighbours in Islam:
- Neighbours expect to you behave politely in attitude and speech
- Neighbours have the right to visit them in getting ill or die
- Neighbours have the right to be good, as a true Muslims
- Neighbours have big value exchanging greetings
- Neighbours is an outstanding virtue of humanity
- Neighbours always feel safe from your presence
- Neighbours, they are like our brothers or sister
- Neighbours have good acts and give charity
- Neighbours should worry while he is happy
- Neighbours cause comfort for each other
- Neighbours have the right to share food
- Neighbours never hurt each other
- Neighbours always act with a purpose
- Neighbours become aware of self-talk
- Neighbours never ridicule one another
- Neighbours live in the Light of the Quran
- Neighbours should live in trouble and worry
- Neighbours protect each other by any means
- Neighbours give advice and help one another
- Neighbours spend time with a positive attitude
- Neighbours never feel injured with your tongue
- Neighbours are bestowing favour, mercifulness
- Neighbours should have to do an obligation of zakat
- Neighbours need some advice to solve their problems
- Neighbours also find a variety of economic-social status
Islam puts a deep emphasis on our duty to our neighbours. Islam emphasizes keeping a favourable environment around one`s house where its adjoining residents should not feel any kind of trouble from it. Being a good neighbour and realizing the duty to our neighbours doesn’t just mean being friendly to the homeowners next door. It means to help take care of the community as a whole—and that includes the poor. Allah says:
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُوا حَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن يُرِيدَا إِصْلَاحًا يُوَفِّقِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا
And if you fear dissension between (the) two of then send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. If they both wish reconciliation, Allah will cause reconciliation between both of them. Indeed, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:35)
Our Prophet Muhammad SAW who has the right of attitude is the greatness of mirrors. In his society lives with his neighbours, he always primaries the attitude. Neighbours who are non-Muslims, we must respect them as the other’s neighbour. Don’t any differences the neighbour just because of the status, their background.
We have to first understand our duty to our neighbours:
- Congratulate him if he is met with good fortune
- Grieve in sympathy if a calamity befalls him
- You must help him if he asks for your help
- Never make difficult the neighbour’s need
- Give him relief if he seeks your relief
- Never show off our lifestyle
- Do not harass him
- Disturb the neighbours
- Lend him if he needs a loan
- Never let the neighbours hungry
- Give him a share when you buy fruits
- If he sins, prevent it from being known
- You must attend his funeral when he dies
- You must visit (and take care of) him when he is ill
- Differences in the social status between the neighbour
Islam places great importance on the treatment and hospitality of neighbours:
Who is a neighbour?
The neighbour includes -the adjoining ones- whether they are Muslim and non-Muslim, the good and the bad and those with near or far houses.
The rights of the neighbours
All texts of revelation have stressed good treatment, kindness, cooperation, sharing happiness and sorrow, and mercifulness towards neighbours, regardless of their religion.
Kind treatment
Islam recommends treating neighbours with kindness. Allah tells us to always deal kindly with our neighbours so that their rights could be served well.
Sharing Meals With Them
Food is one of the most essential physiological needs of a person. No one can ever imagine living without it. So, being a true Muslim, one should be highly considerate in this respect.
Ensuring Safety Of Neighbors
Everyone wants to make sure of the security of their loved ones. It is the basic need to survive in the world. Most of the mischief in a community is spread through direct violation of others` protection, which leads to further worsening of situations, as people react directly to every wrong done to them. Allah says:
وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ
“And be moderate in your pace and lower [of] your voice. Indeed, (the) harshest (of all) sounds (is) surely (the) voice (of) the donkeys.” (Surah Luqman 31:19)
Islam has great respect for the mutual rights and duties of neighbours. The chain of good behaviour keeps on building up throughout the world. If everyone cared for its next-door citizens, there would not be any kind of animosity left on the surface of the earth. Muslim should greet his guest with a pleasing attitude and take interest in his conversation. Allah says:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah are like grasses with seven ears – each with 100 grains. Truly, Allah gives manifold increase to whomever He wills …” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261)
Islam is a complete code of life, and it promotes harmony among people. The best way to endorse accord is to start from one`s closest ones, i.e. neighbours. It can also be observed that those who live closer to one`s house have more rights than those far away. So, one should always be at its best to keep just behaviour with its nearby residents, including physical and verbal actions. Allah says:
مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا
“(He) who obeys the Messenger then surely he obeyed Allah, and whoever turns away – then not We (have) sent you over them (as) a guardian.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:80)
In the view of Islam, neighbours have an important role and meaning in the life of a Muslim. They are also found in our residential neighbourhood. Besides, behind, in front of our house, there are neighbours. Please, behave it good for our neighbours to create friendship.
