Who is a Muslim

Know your Neighbor

Neighborhood

The Islamic texts, namely the Qur’an and Sunnah, enjoin kind treatment of neighbours and affirm their rights. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful”

[an-Nisa’ 4:36].

Al-Bukhaari (5185) and Muslim (47) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not annoy his neighbour.”

Al-Bukhaari (6015) and Muslim (2625) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Jibreel kept urging me that neighbours should be treated well until I thought he would make them heirs.”

The scholars differed concerning the definition of a neighbour.

Some of the scholars were of the view that the definition of neighbours according to Islam is forty houses in each direction.

Others were of the view that it is defined linguistically, and that the neighbour is only the one whose house is next to your own.

It was also suggested that the people of each mosque are neighbours, or that this applies to the people of a quarter (area of a city), or the people of a city… And there were other suggestions.

In Mughni al-Muhtaaj (4/95), it says:

Neighbours are forty houses on each side, as was stated by ash-Shaafa ‘i. That is indicated by the report: “The rights of neighbours apply to forty houses like this and like this and like this” – and he pointed to the front, to the back, to the right and to the left. Narrated by Abu Dawood and others with a mursal isnaad, and it has other isnaads that strengthen it. [The hadith was classed as da‘eef by al-Albaani. See: al-Irwa’ (6/100)]

And it was said that neighbours are those whose houses are next to yours;

or the people of the locality in which you live;

or those whose houses are next to yours or facing yours;

or the people of a dead-end street or cul-de-sac;

or those between whom and you there is clear access;

or those who pray with you in the mosque;

or your tribe;

or all the people of the city, because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease (evil desire for adultery, etc.), and those who spread false news among the people in Al-Madinah, cease not, We shall certainly let you overpower them, then they will not be able to stay in it as your neighbours but a little while” [al-Ahzaab 33:60]. 

Who is the Neighbor?

The neighbor is the person who lives near one, regardless of whether he is a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Scholars have different opinions regarding the boundaries to which one is considered a neighbor. The closest opinion to the truth is that they are determined according to what people are accustomed to regarding such a limit, and Allah Knows best. The degrees of neighbors vary: there is the Muslim neighbor who is a relative, the Muslim neighbor who is not, the disbeliever who is a relative, and a disbelieving neighbor who is not. All these types of neighbors share many rights while some of them are distinguished with additional rights according to their state and degree.

Some Forms of Neighborliness

Some people think that the neighbor is only the one who lives near your residence. Undoubtedly, this is one of the commonest forms; however, there are other forms that are included in the concept of neighborliness. There is the neighbor at work, in the market, on the farm, in the classroom, and many others

Being a good neighbor and realizing the duty to our neighbors 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. Many Muslims know the importance of respecting and caring for our parents and other family members, but too many fail to fulfill their duty to our neighbors and the deprived in the community. Allah says in the Quran:
“Serve God, 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, and the companion by your side, the way-farer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: for God loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious.” (Quran 4:36)

Before we can sincerely help the needy, fight poverty, and strengthen our bonds in the Muslim community, we have to first understand our duty to our neighbors.

Our duty to our neighbors include meeting the following:

•You must help him if he asks for your help.

•Give him relief if he seeks your relief.

•Lend him if he needs a loan.

•Do not block his air by raising your building high without his permission.

•Do not harass him.

•Give him a share when you buy fruits; if you do not, bring what you buy quietly and let not your children take them out to excite the jealousy of his children.

•You must visit (and take care of) him when he is ill.

•You must attend his funeral when he dies (and take part in burial arrangements).

•If he commits a sin, prevent it from being known.

•Share meal with your neighbor.

•Give presents to your neighbors.

•Being good to them in all respects.

•Ensure the safety of your neighbors.

•Congratulate him if he is met with good fortune.

•Grieve in sympathy if a calamity befalls him.

•When a member of your community is in need, danger or illness or calamity has fallen on him, it is your duty as a Muslim to reach out and offer them help (regardless of the neighbor’s faith or background). To fail to do this is to fail in our duty to our neighbors, and is to leave a gaping hole in the Ummah.