Among the rights and duties that
Islam has promulgated, are the rights of neighbours. It is a Muslim’s
obligation to behave benevolently with his neighbours as he behaves with his
near and dear ones. He should be courteous with them and try to alleviate their
calamities and affliction. One who observes the rights of his neighbours, shall
find this virtue most beneficial, making him worthy of Allah’s pleasure.
We have been warned that most of the people
would fail to fulfill these rights. The Prophet of Allah (sawa) said “Listen to what I tell you. Only a few people
who are blessed by Allah ‘s Mercy honor the rights of neighbors. Allah stressed
the rights of neighbors so much that I thought neighbors inherit from man.”[1]
The rights of neighbourhood are not
meant for Muslim neighbours only. Of course, a Muslim neighbour has one more
claim upon us - that of Islamic brotherhood; but so far as the rights of
neighbourship are concerned, all are equal.
Explaining it, the Holy Prophet said: Neighbours are of three kinds: (1) that one who has got one right upon you; (2) that one who has got two rights upon you; (3) that one who has got three rights upon you. The neighbour having three rights upon you is the one who is also a Muslim and a relative. The neighbour having two rights is the one who is either a non-Muslim or a non-relative Muslim.
The neighbour having one right is the one who is neither a Muslim nor a relative. Still he has got all the claims of neighbourhood-rights upon you.
Explaining it, the Holy Prophet said: Neighbours are of three kinds: (1) that one who has got one right upon you; (2) that one who has got two rights upon you; (3) that one who has got three rights upon you. The neighbour having three rights upon you is the one who is also a Muslim and a relative. The neighbour having two rights is the one who is either a non-Muslim or a non-relative Muslim.
The neighbour having one right is the one who is neither a Muslim nor a relative. Still he has got all the claims of neighbourhood-rights upon you.
Lets us glance at a few traditions on the rights
of neighbours:
The Holy Prophet (sawa) said:” That man is not from me who sleeps contentedly while his neighbour sleeps hungry.”
The Holy Prophet (sawa) said:” That man is not from me who sleeps contentedly while his neighbour sleeps hungry.”
Al-Imam `Ali ibn al-Husayn (a. s.) in
his Risalat al-Huquq, said: “And the right of your neighbor is that .... You
should not pursue any of his imperfections, and you should not seek any of his
faults. But if you should discover any of his faults unintentionally, you
should take the role of a fortified stronghold and a veiling screen regarding
what you know. You should guard them in such a way that none of his defects can
be discovered even if they are thoroughly inspected with spears. And you should
not eavesdrop on him, and you should not forsake him during times of hardship.
And you should not envy him when he receives a b lessing.
Pardon his deviation and forgive his mistakes.
And do not lose your temper when he behaves out of ignorance with you.....”
The Prophet of Allah (sawa) was asked: “O’
Prophet of Allah! What are the rights of neighbors incumbent upon other
neighbors?” He (sawa) said: “The least right of a neighbor is that if he asks
you for a loan you should grant it to him. If he asks you for help, you should
help him. If he wants to borrow something from you, you should lend it to him.
If he wants you to donate something to him, you should do so. If he invites
you, you should accept his invitation. If he gets sick, you should go and visit
him. If he passes away, you should attend his funeral procession. If he
receives some blessings, you should become happy and not become jealous of his
blessings. If a tragedy befalls him, you should feel sorry for him. You should
not build a tall building which blocks the view from his house. If you bring
home something like fruit, you should give him some as a gift, or cover up the
fruit and take it home in such a way that his kids do not see it.”[2]
It should be noted that the fulfilling of
the above rights do not give us reason to disregard religious laws with regards
to najasat, idol worhsipping, interaction with na-mehram, haram acts etc. Providing our house for hosting their
festivals, facilitating their sinful acts, allowing our chidren to visit them
and learn bad habits, avoiding our
religious activities to avoid their displeasure etc cannot be justifised as
fulflling the rights to neighbours.
May Allah give us taufeeq to fulfill the
rights of our neighbours.
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