Issue 29 www.rabetah.com May/June 2010

Rights of a Neighbour
Neighbours
Maulana Raashid Pakwashi
16
“The best friend in the sight of Allah is
the one who is good to his companions, and
the best neighbour in the sight of Allah
is the one who is good to his
neighbours.” (Tirmizi)
We live in a “self cantered” society where one is taught
to pursue each and everything for ones own joy and
happiness. We live in an idealistic world where
material well-being is generally confused with genuine
happiness and contentment. How astonishing that
such a wide gap exists between such ideals and the
true teachings and traditions of Islam and the actual
conduct of the Muslims as a whole!
Unfortunately the truth is we have forgotten the true
meaning of our Deen. Our religion has become
ritualized and lacks morals, ethics and spirituality. We
believe that by keeping a long beard, spending the
nights in prayer, and by performing several pilgrimages
we are fulfilling the rights of Islam. Needless to say,
these are some of the obligations of a
Mu‟min” (believer) but our Deen is so pure and so
much more. It is an ethical code of morals and
manners guiding us on how to interact with our family
and friends and how to live and prosper as a collective
community.
The beauty of Islam lies in its teachings of Aamaal
(manners) which cover all aspects of our lives.
The „neighbour‟ holds a special status in Islam. Allah
Ta'aala says:
“Worship Allah and do not associate with him anything,
and be good to parents and to kinsmen and orphans
and the needy and the close neighbour and the distant
neighbour and the companion at your side and the
wayfarer and to those slaves owned by you. Surely
Allay does not like those who are arrogant and proud.
(An Nisaa 4:36)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reports that the Prophet (PBUH) is
reported to have said;
” Whosoever believes in Allah and the last day should
be good to his neighbour.” (Muslim)
In another Hadeeth by the same narrator the Prophet
(PBUH) is reported to have said;
"By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a
believer! By Allah, he is not a believer.'' It was asked
who O‟ Messenger of Allah, the prophet (PBUH)
replied; "The one whose neighbours do not feel secure
from his mischief and evil.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
It should be understood that this does not imply that he
is no longer in the fold of Islam, but rather this is an
emphatic way of explaining that such a person does
not possess the true essence of Imaan found within
the spirit of a Mu'min and which is pleasing to Allah.
This particular phrasing is used to lend greater
emphasis to the matter at hand.
In another Hadeeth, someone said to the prophet
(PBUH) “O‟ Messenger of Allah such and a such
women is known to engage in prayer all night, fast all
day, busies herself in many pious deeds and gives
Sadaqah, however she constantly upsets her
neighbour with her words.” The Messenger of Allah
replied; “There is no good in such person and she is
amongst the denizens (inhabitant) of hell.” (Ahmad)
The aforementioned Ahadeeth clearly portray how
kindness to a neighbour is not just an act of reward but
an integral part of our Deen.
Islam encourages Muslims to treat ones neighbour in a
gentle way, a way that reflects the true and genuine
spirit of Islam. It makes no difference whether the
neighbours are Muslim or non-Muslim; rather a Muslim
neighbour holds two rights over a person whereas a
related Muslim neighbour holds three! Fulfilling such
rights strengthens the ties of brotherhood and
increases the love and affection amongst the
community of Muslims which is sought after as part of
our Deen.
We constantly come across such brilliant examples
from the Sahabas. Ibn Umar is quoted in a Hadeeth to
have said
“A companion was sent the head of a slaughtered goat
as a gift. He thought to himself that another companion
and his children are in more need than himself so he
sent it to that companion. This second companion sent
it to a third companion who sent it to a fourth. The gift
changed hands a total of seven times before finally
returning to the initial companion”
The following day Allah Ta'aala revealed the verse;
“But preferring them above themselves, even though
poverty was their lot.” (Al-Hashr 59:9)
Look how selfless and caring these companions were
even though each and every one of them was just as
deserving. May Allah give us the Tawfeeq to become
shining beacons and the true ambassadors of his
Deen. Ameen
Issue 29 www.rabetah.com May/June 2010