The Rights of Neighbors

The Qur’an came to confirm the rights of neighbors and recommend Muslims to treat them justly. Allah the Almighty says,

“Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet),” (Surah An-Nisa’, 4: 36).     

Commenting on this verse, Ibn Kathir said, “The word al-Jar dhi al-Qurba means the neighbor who is also a relative, and the words al-jar al-Junub means the neighbor who is not a relative.” Some scholars are reported to have said, “The words al-Jar dhi al-Qurba mean the Muslim neighbor and the words al-jar al-Junub stand for the non-Muslim neighbor and both opinions recommend the good treatment of neighbors.”    

Due to their enforceable rights, there are many prophetic traditions that command kind treatment to neighbors. Because of the repeated recommendations by Angel Gabriel on neighbors, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) thought that the neighbor would be given a share of inheritance and be considered family member. On the authority of ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar said, Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said,

“Gabriel kept reminding of neighbors' rights that I thought he would order me to take them for heirs.”       

The phrase (kept reminding me) means that every time he met the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and wanted to leave, he reminded him of neighbors' rights. Furthermore, he stressed on this point and reminded him to treat neighbors justly. Due to the repeated enjoinments, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) thought that Allah the Almighty would give him a rightful share in his neighbor’s money.   

Islam told mankind that the best Muslim is the one who is best to his neighbors. On the authority of ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As who said that Allah’s Messenger said,

“The best of companions with Allah is the one who is best to his companion, and the best of neighbors with Him is the one who is best to his neighbor.”     

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) told us that the ugliest and worst type of sin is to deal with neighbors badly and to betray the right of neighborhood.

This is because it is the duty of the neighbor to be honest concerning his neighbor’s money, honor, and dignity.

Hence, if there is a defect in one's neighbor, this is considered a matter of breach and violation that Allah would not forgive due to betrayal and harm inherent therein.

On the authority of Al-Miqdad ibn ‘Amr said that one day while Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) was talking to his Companions, he said to them, “What would you say about adultery?” They said, “It is prohibited until the Day of Judgment, Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) made it prohibited”. Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said, “To commit adultery ten times is a lesser sin than doing this crime to your neighbor’s wife.” Then he said, “What would say about theft?” They said, “It is prohibited until the Day of Judgment, Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) made it so”. He said “to steal ten times is lesser in sin than stealing your neighbor’s home”.      

Furthermore, on the authority of ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud who said, “O Messenger of Allah, which sin is most grievous? He said, “To set up a rival with Allah, though He (Alone) created you." I said, "What next?" He said, "To kill your son lest they should share your food." I said, "What next?" He said, "To commit adultery with the wife of your neighbor."      

In another occasion his wife ‘Aisha asked him saying, “O Allah's Messenger! I have two neighbors and would like to know to which of them I should give presents." He replied, "To the one whose door is nearer to you."  Also, he referred to the importance of a neighbor smiling to his neighbor, and sharing his food by saying, “Don't consider anything insignificant out of good things even if it is that you meet your brother with a cheerful countenance.”   The Prophet also said, “O Abu Dharr, if you cook soup, make a lot of it and give your neighbors.”   

Muhammad (Peace be upon him) taught that a neighbor has a right that his close neighbor should fulfill, i.e. sharing with him in good and bad times, and feeding him from what he eats even if it was soup. This is to make him feel his position and importance without wounding his pride or causing him injustice. In addition, being a good neighbor is to keep one's neighbor's family and children safe when absent, offering services to them, taking care of their needs, protecting them and ensuring that the elder ones do not violate the rights of the younger.      

So, he (Peace be upon him) enjoins a Muslim to love his neighbor, respect him, treat him fairly, show him kindness whenever and however possible, visit him if ill, console him, serve him, help him if necessary, love goodness for him and lower his gaze if he sees anything that is illegal to look at. He (Peace be upon him) said,

“Four things are part of happiness: a righteous wife, a spacious abode, a good neighbor and a comfortable mount. And four things are part of misery: a bad wife, a bad neighbor, a bad mount and a small abode”.