The Rights of Neighbors In Islam
The Quran guides man about his rights of Neighbors in society. It emphasizes justice, trust, respect for life and property, patience, humility, thankfulness, and forgiveness.
The fundamental relation between a man and other individuals are those of parents and children, husband and wife. It also includes relations between relatives, neighbors, the poor and needy, orphans, and non-Muslims.
The Quran says:
وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ اِحْسَانًا وَّذِي الْقُرْبٰى وَالْيَتٰمٰى وَالْمَسٰكِيْنِ وَقُوْلُوْا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْـنًا [سورۃ البقرۃ :83 ]
“Treat with kindness your parents and kindred and orphans and those in need; Speak fair to the people.” (2:83)
Who is a “Neighbor” in Islam?
Whoever lives with a man in a locality or city is a neighbor. Al-Auzai and Ibn Shihab said: “Forty houses in each direction”
Ali Ibn Abi Talib said:
”Whoever hears the call (for prayer) is a neighbor”
Categories of Neighbors
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that neighbors are of three kinds:
- The neighbor with only one right is a non-Muslim neighbor with whom there are no family ties.
- The neighbor with two rights is the neighbor who is also a Muslim (as such he has a claim as a
neighbor as well as a fellow Muslim) - The neighbor with three rights is the neighbor who is a Muslim and a Relative – he has a claim as a
neighbor, as a fellow Muslim and as a relative
The Quranic verse enjoins the doing of good to near neighbors, neighbors who are strangers,
وَّبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ اِحْسَانًا وَّبِذِي الْقُرْبٰى وَالْيَتٰمٰي وَالْمَسٰكِيْنِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبٰى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَـنْۢبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيْلِ [ سورۃ النساء : 36 ]
And do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, near neighbors, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), (04: 36)
Condemnation of some Neighbors
Another verse of the Quran condemns those who refuse (to supply) their neighbor’s need
وَيَمْنَعُوْنَ الْمَاعُوْنَ [سورۃ الماعون: 07
“But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbor’s needs” (107:07)
It is reported that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) laid so much emphasis on the rights of neighbors that some of his Companions thought that neighbors might be included in the list of heirs.
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him said):
[مَا زَالَ جِبْرَائِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ ” .[ سنن ابن ماجہ: 3674“
“Jibril kept enjoining good treatment of neighbors until I thought he would make neighbors heirs.”
Perfection of Faith
There are several sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in connection with the rights of neighbors. He declared the good treatment of the neighbors, as a part of Iman (faith).
وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ جَارَهُ [صحیح المسلم: 24]
“And he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbor with kindness”
لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي يَشْبَعُ وَجَارُهُ جَائِعٌ. [السنن الكبرى للبيهقي: 18099 ]
He who is well-fed, with his neighbors starving, is not a (true) believer.
خَيْرُ الأَصْحَابِ عِنْدَ اللهِ تَعَالَى خَيْرُهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِ، وَخَيْرُ الْجِيرَانِ عِنْدَ اللهِ تَعَالَى خَيْرُهُمْ لِجَارِهِ [ جامع الترمذی: 1944 ]
“The best of companions in the sight of Allah Almighty is the best of them towards his companion, and the best of neighbors in the sight of Allah is the best of them towards his neighbor.”
“ مَا زَالَ جِبْرَائِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ ” .[ سنن ابن ماجہ: 3674 ]
“Jibril kept enjoining good treatment of neighbors until I thought he would make neighbors
heirs.”
