Eight hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
1.
"By virtue of a righteous Muslim, Allah removes
calamity from a hundred neighbouring homes." He then recited this part of
the Quran:
وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ
اللّٰهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الْأَرْضُ
*And
if Allah does not keep away some people by some others, then certainly the
earth will be destroyed.*¹
2. "In
the sight of Allah, the best neighbours are those who wish well for their
neighbour."²
3.
"He whose neighbour is not secure from his wrongful
conduct, shall not enter Paradise."³
4.
He who eats to his fill whilst his neighbour goes hungry
nearby is not a 'perfect' believer.⁴
5.
"He who causes pain to his neighbour causes pain to me,
and he who causes pain to me displeases Allah."⁵
Reference:
¹ Al-Quran, 2:251,
Translation from Kanz al-Īmān - Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid, vol. 8, p. 299,
Hadith: 13533
² Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1951
³ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 46
⁴ Shuʿab al-Īmān: 3389
⁵ Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhīb, vol. 3, p. 241, Hadith: 13
6.
"Jibrāʾīl continued to emphasize neighbours to the
extent I thought he would make them inheritors."¹
7.
"He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat
his neighbour kindly."²
8.
"Forty homes are a neighbourhood."³ Imam Zuhrī رحمة الله عليه says this means forty homes in four
directions around an individual.⁴ It is stated in Nuzhat al-Qārī: "Each
person ascertains who their neighbours are through social norms and common
sense."⁵
9.
Imam Ghazālī رحمة الله عليه
writes:
The
rights of neighbors include giving salaam to them first, not speaking to them
for exhaustingly lengthy periods, not inquiring too deeply into their matters,
checking on their health when they fall ill, supporting them when they are in
need, making them happy when they are sad, congratulating them in their happy
moments and taking part in their joy.
One
must also overlook their shortcomings, not look into their homes from one's
home, not narrow the paths leading to their homes, not sneak a look at what
they take inside, cover their faults, help them when they are injured or
afflicted, look after their home in their absence, uphold their honour when
they are not present to defend it, and not stare at their families.
Reference:
¹ Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī: 6014
² Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 48
³ Marāsīl Abī Dāwūd p. 16
⁴ Ibid
⁵ Nuzhat al-Qārī, vol. 5, p. 568
One
must also speak softly with their children and guide their neighbours in
religious and worldly matters they are unaware of.¹
10.
A person once said to the Companion ʿAbdullah bin Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, "My neighbour causes me pain, swears
at me, and deals with me harshly." The Companion replied, "If he has
disobeyed Allah regarding you, then obey Allah regarding him."²
11.
A pious man once had many mice in his home. Someone advised,
"Get a cat to help with this." He replied, "I fear the mice will
go to my neighbours home when they hear a cat. I will become someone who likes
for his neighbour that he does not like for himself."³
12.
A narration details how a poor person shall hold the shirt
of his rich neighbour and ask Allah the following,
Reference:
¹ Iḥyā al-ʿUlūm, vol. 2, pp.
266 - 267, summarised
² Ibid
³ Ibid
"O
my Lord! Ask him why he deprived me of his good treatment, and why he closed
his door upon me."¹
13.
A person came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "It's said so-and-so woman prays, fasts, and
gives charity profusely. Yet, she causes pain to her neighbours with what she
says." He replied, "She is in Hell." The person then said,
"It's said another woman prays, fasts, and gives charity less than the
first. She gives cheese in charity and does not cause pain to her neighbours
with her words." The Prophet ﷺ
then declared, "She is in Paradise."²
14.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ
explained:
There
are three types of neighbours. Some have three rights, some two, and others
one. A neighbour who is Muslim and your relative has three rights – those of
being a neighbour, of Islam, and of being a relative.
A
Muslim neighbour has two rights –those of being a neighbour and of Islam. A
disbelieving neighbour has only one right – that of being a neighbour.³
15.
A Jewish neighbour of the saint Bāyazīd Bisṭāmī رحمة الله عليه went on a journey, leaving his wife and
child behind. The latter would cry at night. When the saint asked the child's
mother the reason behind this, she said, "There is no lamp in our home,
and my child is scared of the dark."
Reference:
¹ Ibid
² Musnad Imam Aḥmad: 9681
³ Shuʿab al-Īmān: 9560
Hearing
this, the saint proceeded to send a lamp to her home every day with plenty of
oil to keep it lit through the night.
When
the Jewish neighbour returned, his wife relayed everything that had occurred.
He exclaimed, "The lamp of Bāyazīd has entered our home. How can darkness
now remain here?" He and his wife then accepted Islam.¹
The
teachings of Islam regarding neighbours highlight the importance of kindness,
compassion, and mutual respect in building a peaceful society. The Quran and
the Sunnah make it clear that honouring the rights of neighbours is not merely
good etiquette but an essential part of a believer's faith. The Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ repeatedly emphasized that a true Muslim
is one from whose words and actions neighbours remain safe and secure.
These
fifteen Sunnahs teach that every neighbour deserves respect and good treatment,
regardless of their religion, social status, or personal relationship with us.
A believer should greet neighbours with salām, help them in times of need,
visit them during illness, share in their joys and sorrows, and protect their
honour and privacy. Islam also teaches us to avoid causing even the slightest
inconvenience or harm, whether through speech, actions, or negligence. Such
conduct strengthens community ties and creates an environment of trust and
harmony.
The
narrations also remind us that acts of worship alone are not sufficient if they
are not accompanied by good character. The Prophet ﷺ
warned about the woman who prayed and fasted abundantly but hurt her neighbours
with her tongue, while giving glad tidings of Paradise to the woman who caused
no harm to those living around her. This clearly shows that kindness towards
neighbours is among the deeds most beloved to Allah Almighty.
Another
important lesson is to remain patient even with difficult neighbours. Instead
of responding to wrongdoing with anger or revenge, Muslims are encouraged to
forgive, show patience, and continue treating others with kindness. The
inspiring example of the saint Bāyazīd Bisṭāmī رحمة
الله عليه demonstrates how sincere care for a neighbour can soften hearts
and even become a means of guiding others to Islam.
In
today's busy world, where neighbourly relationships are often neglected, these
Sunnahs remind us to revive the spirit of care and cooperation. A simple
greeting, sharing food, offering assistance, or checking on an elderly or sick
neighbour can strengthen relationships and spread love within the community.
In
conclusion, fulfilling the rights of neighbours is a reflection of sincere
faith and noble character. By following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, believers can build stronger communities,
earn the pleasure of Allah Almighty, and become a source of peace and comfort
for those around them. May Allah grant us the ability to honour the rights of
our neighbours and embody the beautiful manners taught by Islam. Āmīn.
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