29. DUTY TOWARDS NEIGHBOUR

God says:

….and do good to your parents, and near of kin, and unto orphans, and the needy, and the neighbour from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger*… Q.4: 36
*i.e., “whether he belongs to your own or to another community.” That the expression “your own people” (dhu‘l - qurba) refers to the community and not to one’s actual relatives is obvious from the fact that “the near of kin” has already been mentioned earlier in this sentence. The Prophet often stressed a believer’s moral obligation towards his neighbours whatever their faith.

As for such [of the unbelievers] as do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity : for, verily, God loves those who act equitably.-- Q.60: 8

Woe, then, unto those praying ones whose hearts from their prayer are remote -- those who want only to be seen and praised, and, with all that, deny all assistance (to their fellow-men)! * -- Q.107: 4 -7
*The term al - ma -un (in the Arabic text) comprises many small items needed for one’s daily use, as well as the occasional acts of kindness consisting in helping out one’s fellow men (specially neighbours) with such items.

Making most of your Friday Post? It becomes just your ‘information’ when you read it. Apply mind to it and it becomes your ‘knowledge’. Knowledge strengthens faith!



Prophet said:

1. “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day, let him do good to his neighbour” *--H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
*This Tradition sums up a believer’s moral obligation towards his neighbours, whatever their faith.

2. “Gibraiel did not stop to advise me about neighbour till I thought he would soon be (declared) an heir” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Bibi Ayesha and Ibn Omar.

3. “One whose neighbour is not safe from being troubled by him shall not enter paradise” – H: Muslim. N: Anas

4. “(While cooking) when you prepare broth increase its water content in order to share with your neighbours” --- H: Muslim. N: Abu Zarr.

5. Bibi Ayesha asked: O Messenger of God! I have two neighbors. Which of the two should I send a present? He replied, “To one whose door is nearer to you” – H: Bukhari. N: Bibi Ayesha.
Islamic law of Pre-emption for non- Muslims: (law of the neighbourhood applied to immovable property.) Generally speaking, a Muslim neighbour who is also related has greater right than a Muslim neighbour who is not related; and a Muslim neighbour has a greater right than a non Muslim neighbour. However, in matter of purchasing land or property in the neighbourhood, Islamic law of Pre-emption gives a non-Muslim neighbour greater right than a Muslim who is not a neighbour. (Al-Hadis: ref: notes 190 in vol. 1, and 870 in vol. 2)