Being Kind to the Neighbors

All praise is due to Allah, I ask Allah ta^ala to raise the rank of our master Muhammad, and his good and pure Al and companions, and to protect his nation from that which he fears for it.

Thereafter, O slaves of Allah, I advise you as I advise myself to fear Allah, fulfil the obligations and refrain from committing sins.Ayah 36 of Suratun-Nisa’ means: [Worship Allah and do not associate any partner with Him.

Be a fair companion to your parents and be kind to them. Be kind to your relatives, the orphans, the poor, your close and far neighbors whether related or not, your friend in proximity and companion in travel, and to those you posses   of slaves and animals. Surely   Allah does not accept those who are arrogant and conceited].

My dear brothers in Islam, in this glorious ayah, Allah, the Exalted, ordered us to worship Him alone and not to associate any partners with Him. And in this glorious ayah, Allah ordered us to present to our parents and kin   kindness and good conduct,   to show courtesy to the orphans,   to support the needy (poor) and to the traveller who is stranded.Also in this ayah, there is an urge to treat one’s neighbor kindly without bias: Allah said in Suratun-Nisa’, Ayah 36:وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِThis means: [your close and far neighbors whether related or not]. The Prophet urged to treat the neighbour kindly by saying: <<let the one who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement treat his neighbor with acts of kindness>>.

So treat your neighbor with acts of kindness and ask your wives to do the same with their female neighbors.   In this regard, the Prophet said what means: <<O Muslim women, do not treat your female neighbors in malice, not even in the slightest manner>>.

The Prophet peace be upon him said what means: <<The best neighbor is the one who treats his neighbors kindly>>.The rights that apply to neighbors apply to everyone who lives in a radius near to your home. However, priority is given to those who live closer to your house,  then the those further in proximity and so on.Abu Dharr al-Ghifariyy, may Allah raise his rank said: “My beloved Prophet peace be up him advised me by saying: <<if you were to cook soup, increase its water content and offer a portion to some of your neighbors>>.Dear brothers, I ask you to fear Allah by being considerate to the rights of your neighbors. Avoid saying or doing what might harm them. Don’t ask about what does not concern you.

Don’t try to seek and keep track of their defects. Don’t pry into what they don’t want you to see.   And, don’t overhear what they don’t want you to listen. Visit your neighbor if he becomes sick   and follow his Janazah when he dies. Give him your condolences during his times of hardship and calamity.

Treat him the way you would like to be treated. Lower your gaze when you see the women of your neighborhood.Join your neighbor for meals and drinks.Be patient with him if he were to harm you.My dear brother, ask yourself the following questions and think; how many people nowadays harm their neighbors? How much conflict actually occurs between neighbors because one fails to follow the manners the Prophet, peace be upon him, advised us to display, especially with one’s neighbors?The Prophet peace be upon him said what means: << Angel Jibril kept drawing my attention to treating the neighbor in a good way to a point that, I thought he would tell me that the neighbor is entitled to inherit his neighbor>>.

Finally, I remind myself and you to treat our neighbors in a good manner so that we may be amongst those with the highest ranks in the Hereafter, Amin.