Nursing a Baby

Many new mothers are uncomfortable about breast-feeding in public, but all babies need to eat when they''re hungry.

Breast milk is proven to be the best and most perfect source of nutrition for infants. It is complete with the right amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and hormones that infants need. Time and time again, we hear breast milk contain valuable antibodies from the mother that helps her child to resist infections.
Although today there are various commercially prepared formulas being sold in the market for infants, the components contained in it are not the same as those in human breast milk. Amongst others, it lacks antibodies that help protect babies until their own immune system is fully developed. Antibodies from a mother cannot be stored in the formulas or cows’ milk.
Hence, breastfeeding is very much encouraged to allow a child a good beginning in his or her life. Islam itself encourage mothers to breastfeed their child. This is clearly stated in the Quran:-
"Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years; (that is) for those who wish to complete suckling." [Al - Baqarah: 233]

Many new mothers are uncomfortable about breast-feeding, particularly in public. However, all babies need to eat when they’re hungry and they will cry when they feel hungry. It is better for the mother to nurse the baby rather than letting him cry in public.
In order to help you nurse discreetly, anytime, anywhere, here are some useful tips:-
• Make plans prior to outing. Consider how and where you plan to nurse.
• Wear the right kind of clothing that are suitable for breastfeeding in public without much notice. Two-piece outfits with lightweight tops that are pulled from bottom are best options. You may also use a jacket or top that can be used as a screen. Today, there are clothing range for breastfeeding moms for easy and discreet access.
• Using a sling can help facilitate discrete nursing as they have lots of extra cloth to provide cover.
• It is best to nurse your baby right before you leave home so that it takes a longer time before she gets hungry again.
• Find a comfortable bench or chair is you are in a store or mall. If there are no chairs, ask if you can nurse in the fitting room. Some malls are baby friendly and have special rooms for breastfeeding moms.
• Don’t wait until your baby cries before feeding her. This will allow her to nurse more calmly and do not draw unnecessary public attention.
• Carry a small toy or a string of large, colourful, non-toxic beads to occupy the baby while she nurses.
• Forgo nursing in the public restroom. The reason is clear: would you want to eat your lunch in a restroom?
• Be discreet and proud. You are fulfilling the needs of your baby in the best possible way.
• Always remember, practice makes perfect. Use the first few weeks at home after childbirth to get yourself comfortable with breastfeeding. You’ll be ready to breastfeed in public if you are comfortable and at ease doing so at home.
• You may also express your milk and bring it with you on your outings. Using a cup is better than a bottle to avoid nipple confusion.

And remember, it is important that breastfeeding mothers should avoid exposing their aurah to the public. Allah SWT says in the Noble Quran,
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband''s fathers, their sons, their husband''s sons, their brothers or their brother''s sons, or their sister''s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." [An - Noor: 31]

Health In Islam

Concept of health in Islam

In Islam the concept of health as confirmed in Qur’an and Sunnah (Prophet’s hadith and practices) is that Mankind should sound spiritually, physically and socially.

Medicine and health are part and parcel of worship and subservience to Allah. A weak person may not perform his duties towards Allah, his family and community as the strong healthy one can do.

Definition of health

The conventional definition of health being the absence of any manifestation of disease and believing that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, Islam deems this to be a necessary component of faith and of Islamic law, which Moslems implemented during their golden age and in so doing provided evidence supporting its applicability.
Health is best defined as that state in which one never needs the need to be aware of the body. In other words, a healthy person receives no signal of pain, disturbance of discomfort. However, this optimum standard is rarely achieved in our modern, stressful and polluted world.

Food and Nutrition

The important principle in Islam is that the food we consume will have a direct effect on not only our physical bodies but also our souls.
There is a chain of link of the law of cause and effect between the money to purchase food, the way the food was prepared and the psyche of cook and the persons who eat the food.
To keep optimum health we have to ensure proper diet and nutrition. The holy Prophet Muhammad says: “Stomach is the home of disease. Diet is the main medicine”. Sahih Muslim.


When it is said that stomach is the home of disease, this means that disease arises when the digestion process becomes unbalanced. “Diet is the main medicine” mean that we should first use foods themselves to rebalance and rebuild the digestive process.

Nutritional basic Islamic concept on health

Nutrition doesn’t mean just physical nutrition. Nutritional needs are of the SOUL, of the MIND and lastly of the BODY.

The basis of Islamic nutrition covers all aspects of human being in a balanced way. It begins with the need of the soul because the purpose of our existence begins with the soul. The second nutritional need is the need of our vital force or the mental state. The third one is the need of the self or the body.

In Islam, all that in this universe is governed by a set of Divine laws or laws of nature. Thus nutrition, food and health are linked to basic Divine principals.

The laws of nature (Divine laws) Govern the whole universe, those who follow these laws will bring happiness, joy and health to themselves and unhappiness, ill-health and destruction to those who transgress these laws.


Health, Islamic Perspectives

Islam has laid down the foundation in Qur’an and Sunnah for the best approach of balanced health. This approach is mainly through selection of the best, protective methods, and staying away from harmful things.

Summary of the main ideas of Islam relating to nutrition and health is presented in the following:
1. Allah asked every one to eat what is lawful, Allah says in surah Al-Bawarah (The Cow): “Ye people eat of what is on earth lawful ang wholesome” (Qur’an 2:168)
2. Muslims are to eat the best food after selecting, Allah says in Qur’an in surah Al-A’raf (The Heights): “Eat and drink, but waste not excess, for Allah loves not the prodigals” (Qur’an 7:31)
3. Muslims are to select the best quality of food, Allah says in the Qur’an in surah Al-Kahf (The Cave): “”Now send ye then one of you with the money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had)…” (Qur’an 18:29)
4. Regarding the idea of moderation through diet, it is mentioned in surah Taha: “Eat of the good things we have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein”
5. In another approach, Islam demands from its followers the idea of total Abstinence of food and drinks for one whole month from dawn to sunset. Fasting increases productivity and curbs inflation. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may learn self restraint.” i.e to have Taqwa.

The benefits of fasting have been tested and documented especially in the area of biochemistry, physiology, clinical therapeutics and clinical nutrition. It is beyond doubt that fasting helps the individual to get rid of the most of the toxins in the body. The word “Taqwa” has been explained in many aspects, some of which are related to health and disease, food and dietetics, physical fitness. It also means, self-training, self-discipline, self-education for the purification of self , soul, mind and body.

With regards to fasting, the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “fast (the month of Ramadhan) so as to heal your bodies from diseases”

The Islamic way of life is a system of Divine principals and code of ethics to be applied in the daily life of every person. Islamic life styles embrace numerous positive patterns promoting health and rejecting any behaviour which is contradictory to health. As such Islam have many constructive ideas to offer in the field of health care and medical practice.

Ten Keys to Successful Parenting

From Positive Parenting

It is important that we discipline in a way that teaches responsibility by motivating our children internally, to build their self-esteem and make them feel loved. If our children are disciplined in this respect, they will not have a need to turn to gangs, drugs, or sex to feel powerful or belong.
The following ten keys will help parents use methods that have been proven to provide children with a sense of well-being and security.
1 - Use Genuine Encounter Moments (GEMS)
Your child's self-esteem is greatly influenced by the quality of time you spend with him-not the amount of time that you spend. With our busy lives, we are often thinking about the next thing that we have to do, instead of putting 100% focused attention on what our child is saying to us. We often pretend to listen or ignore our child's attempts to communicate with us. If we don't give our child GEMS throughout the day, he will often start to misbehave. Negative attention in a child's mind is better than being ignored.
It is also important to recognize that feelings are neither right nor wrong. They just are. So when your child says to you, "Mommy, you never spend time with me" (even though you just played with her) she is expressing what she feels. It is best at these times just to validate her feelings by saying, "Yeah, I bet it does feel like a long time since we spent time together."
2 - Use Action, Not Words
Statistics say that we give our children over 2000 compliance requests a day! No wonder our children become "parent deaf!" Instead of nagging or yelling, ask yourself, "What action could I take?" For example, if you have nagged your child about unrolling his socks when he takes them off, then only wash socks that are unrolled. Action speaks louder than words.
3 - Give Children Appropriate Ways to Feel Powerful
If you don't, they will find inappropriate ways to feel their power. Ways to help them feel powerful and valuable are to ask their advice, give them choices, let them help you balance your check book, cook all our part of a meal, or help you shop. A two-year-old can wash plastic dishes, wash vegetables, or put silverware away. Often we do the job for them because we can do it with less hassle, but the result is they feel unimportant.
4 - Use Natural Consequences
Ask yourself what would happen if I didn't interfere in this situation? If we interfere when we don't need to, we rob children of the chance to learn from the consequences of their actions. By allowing consequences to do the talking, we avoid disturbing our relationships by nagging or reminding too much. For example, if your child forgets her lunch, you don't bring it to her. Allow her to find a solution and learn the importance of remembering.
5 - Use Logical Consequences
Often the consequences are too far in the future to practically use a natural consequence. When that is the case, logical consequences are effective. A consequence for the child must be logically related to the behavior in order for it to work. For example, if your child forgets to return his video and you ground him for a week, that punishment will only create resentment within your child. However, if you return the video for him and either deduct the amount from his allowance or allow him to work off the money owed, then your child can see the logic to your discipline.
6 - Withdraw from Conflict
If your child is testing you through a temper tantrum, or being angry or speaking disrespectfully to you, it is best if you leave the room or tell the child you will be in the next room if he wants to "Try again." Do not leave in anger or defeat.
7 - Separate the Deed from the Doer
Never tell a child that he is bad. That tears at his self-esteem. Help your child recognize that it isn't that you don't like him, but it is his behavior that you are unwilling to tolerate. In order for a child to have healthy self-esteem, he must know that he is loved unconditionally no matter what he does. Do not motivate your child by withdrawing your love from him. When in doubt, ask yourself, did my discipline build my child's self-esteem?
8 - Be Kind and Firm at the Same Time
Suppose you have told your five-year-old child that if she isn't dressed by the time the timer goes off, you will pick her up and take her to the car. She has been told she can either get dressed either in the car or at school. Make sure that you are loving when you pick her up, yet firm by picking her up as soon as the timer goes off without any more nagging. If in doubt, ask yourself, did I motivate through love or fear?
9 - Parent with the End in Mind
Most of us parent with the mindset to get the situation under control as soon as possible. We are looking for the expedient solution. This often results in children who feel overpowered. But if we parent in a way that keeps in mind how we want our child to be as an adult, we will be more thoughtful in the way we parent. For example, if we spank our child, he will learn to use acts of aggression to get what he wants when he grows up.
10 - Be Consistent, Follow Through
If you have made an agreement that your child cannot buy candy when she gets to the store, do not give in to her pleas, tears, demands or pouting. Your child will learn to respect you more if you mean what you say.

Using Siwak

Introduction

Cleaning the teeth is one thing that asked by Rasulullah (pbuh) to be done by the muslim. Rasulullah (pbuh) mentioned this matter in hadith as follows:

“Use the siwaak for indeed it purifies the mouth and pleasing to
the lord. Each time Jibril has come to me, he has enjoined me to
employ the siwak to the point that I feared that it would become
obligatory upon my nation and me. If I did not fear that it would
come difficult for my nation, I would have obligated its use upon
them and indeed I employ the siwak to the point that I fear that
my front teeth would be uprooted.”

For that, as a muslim we should apply this instruction in our daily life.

Siwaak in Islam and it advantages

What is siwaak in Islam? The following hadith will give explanation about the meaning of siwaak . Rasulullah (pbuh) said:

“The bath of Friday is obligatory on those who attained
Puberty and (also cleaning of their teeth with) the siwaak
(toothbrush taken from the twigs of the’Arak or other tree)
and use the perfume if available.”

Clearly the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) tell the nation what is siwaak actually. In Islam, siwak is the toothbrush taken from the twigs of the ‘Arak or other tree. This tooth brush is used when cleaning the teeth and it is one of the purification in Islam like ablution. It is a sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

From the research there are a lot of advantages when applying the siwaak in cleaning the teeth. One of the advantage is to keep the teeth clean all the time particularly when we are going to perform the prayer. We will see God in a good condition. Otherwise, with siwaak it will lead mind to be thinking effectively and this is something good for a student in order to facing their daily study and also for the career person. Siwak also can avoid the bad smelly when the mouth emits an odor. Odor from the mouth will make people not comfortable to communicate with other people, so siwaak will resolve the problem and make people confident when facing other people.

How to use the Siwaak?

As mentioned previously, siwaak is used in cleaning the teeth. Then we have to know how to use use the siwaak. It should be use by these ways:

Wash the siwaak before and after using it.
Moistened with water prior to use. Preferable to moisten it with rose water.
Siwaak should be held with the small finger and thumb, below the toothbrush and the remaining fingers on its upper side.
Should be used at least thrice (brush three times) for each section of the mouth.
Should not be used while one is lying down.
Siwaak should not be used in the toilet.
Siwaak should be placed vertically when not in use.

The characteristics of the Siwaak

The recommended types of siwaak are walnut tree, peelo tree, bitam, olive or zaitoon or any bitter tree. As Islam ask the followers to clean the teeth there are the characteristics for the siwaak :

It should be taken from the ‘Arak or other bitter tree.
Straight twig, devoid of roughness.
Clean siwaak.
Not too hard and not too soft.
Approximately 8 inches in length.
Should be the thickness of the forefinger.
Not be taken from an unknown tree as it may be poisonous.

When cleaning the teeth is applied?

Siwak is one of the purification in Islam. When should this purification should be applied by a muslim? As mentioned in a lot of fiqh book, it is recommended to use siwaak when:

Reciting al-Quran and Al-Hadith
When mouth emits an odor
Learning or teaching the virtues of Islam
Chanting zikrullah (remembrance of Allah)
Entering ones home or any good gathering
Experiencing pangs of hunger and thirst
For the dead person
At sahoor time
Before and after have meals and journey as well as asleep

Conclusion

Since siwaak has it own advantages, we have to apply it in our daily life in order to follow the sunnah of Rasulullah (pbuh) as siwak will complete our ablution and purification to perform the prayer.

Night Solat

Optional solaah was prescribed to make up for deficiencies which might occur in obligatory solaah and in view of the special merits of solaah which other forms of worship are lacking. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“The first thing to be taken account of from the deeds of the slave
on the day of judgments will be the solaah. If it is not so he will
fail and lose and if something is deficient in his obligatory prayers,
the Lord will say: “Check if my slave has any optional solaah to
his credit.” The deficiency will be made good from that. After that,
the rest of his deeds will examined in a similar way.”

The prophet (pbuh) said to Rabiah bin Malik Al-Aslami:

“Ask me for something.” He said, “I ask you your company in
Paradise,” He said, “Is there anything besides that?” He replied,
“That’s it.” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Help in (in that) by making
lots of Sajdah your self.

Optional solaah encompasses the sunnah solaah of Fajr, Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib and ‘Ishaa and witr and solaah offered after wudhu’ and tahajjud and others.

Night solaah and other forms of optional worship

Night solaah is the optional solah in Islam. This solaah is a prayer offered at night after having sleep. Islam did not set a limit or state the number of rakaat should be performed. And this solaah have to be added one more prayer between solaat al-‘Ishaa and solaat al-fajar.Other than optional solaah that could be perform at night are solaat al-hajat, solaat al-tawbah solaat al-tasbih etc.

Apart the optional solaah, the night should be full with other optional worship of Allah as follows:

 Reciting the Quran
 Chanting zikrullah (remembrance of Allah)
 Selawat for the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
 Recalling what have be done in this life either we are a good slave or not.

It is allowed to pray in congregation, but it is better to pray individually because this what the prophet did himself.





The timing of night solaah

The time for praying night solaah is from ‘Ishaa’ until fajar. But praying at the end of night is better for those who can manage it because the prophet said:

“Whoever is afraid that he will not get up at the end of the night, let him pray witr at the beginning night but whoever feels that he will be able to get up at the end of the night, let him pray witr at the end of the night for prayer at the end witnessed (by the angels) and that is better.

Place offering night solaah

The best place to offer this solaah is in your own home. The prophet said:

“The best solaah is that of a man is in his house except for obligatory
solaah.”

“The solaah of a man in his house is more meritorious than his
prayer in mosque except the obligatory solaah.”

Imam Nawawi also said:

“Stress was placed on praying optional solaah in the home
because it further removes the chance of praying just to show off and
it brings blessing to the house and mercy descend upon it as well as
angels and the Satan clears out.”


Conclusion

Performing solaah is the light for muslims. The light will shine the real way of muslims, the light for who perform it in this world and on the day of judgment. Therefore all muslims should take this great opportunity promised by Allah to grab all the advantages from these night solaah.

Abu Hurairah said:

“Allah’s messenger used to stand until his feet would swell. It was
said to him, O essenger of Allah! You do all that when Allah
has forgiven you your past and future sins?” He said:, “Shouldn’t
I be a grateful slave?”

Let’s compare ourselves! We are a normal people not the messenger of Allah in which full with sins so why not we wake up at the midnight and perform all those optional worship.

Eat Halal

Introduction

Islam teaches people to eat to live not live to eat. As such, what one eats becomes important. Eating moderately and wisely is related to other undertaking of the life of a Muslim, like performing the daily prayers and fasting in Ramadhan. All these are instructions from God. So, if a Muslim eats haram (unlawful) items purposely, it is just the same as to say that he has no confidence in or respect for God's Advice, he is even defiant. Thus, Muslims obey to remain pure in body and soul as for or possible.

What really is halal food

Halal means lawful and halal food are food items and drinks prepared under strict Muslim dietary laws. Haram (unlawful) items include birds and beasts of prey like hawks and tiger, food that has been offered to idols the flesh of animals that are already dead before slaughtering, blood and certain animals like monkeys and rats. The common non-Muslim food which are prohibited to Muslim include pork, by products of pork like ham and lard and liquor.

Halal (lawful) animals, like chicken, sheep, cattle must be slaughtered by Muslim because a short prayer said when they were slaughtered. Also, these animals are slaughtered with very sharp knives and in such a way as to effect :
1) quick death
2) through drainage of blood.

Aquatic animals like fish need not be slaughtered because :
1) they die quickly when then leave water
2) they do not have much blood as birds and land animals.

Food items with animal gelatin and cakes and fruit punch with liquor added are also not permissible.

As for a medicine which contains haram ingredients, like alcohol, a Muslim will decide whatever that medicine is really necessary for the cure of the sickness or disease he has, if it is, then the medicine becomes obligatory for the Muslim to take. The logic is that the patient is not taking the medicine because of the haram ingredients in it, like people consuming alcohol drink to enjoy it, but here, he is taking the mixture of table/capsules as medicine in the hope of getting a cure for his aliment.

Why do Muslims refrain from eating pork?

In Islam, eating pork is sinful because God prohibits it. However the Quran does not give the exact reason or reasons for its prohibition. It goes without saying that if one believes in God, one should obey Him without question. In a command, no reasons are given. The reasons are hidden. For instance, no reasons need be given to such notices as "No parking", "No smoking", "No swimming", etc, although there are reasons for putting up these notices.

Although God knows what is best for His creation, it is good for Muslims to find out the reasons for the prohibition. In the Quran, the prohibition of eating pork is mentioned in four chapters, namely, chapters 2, 5, 6, and 16. In chapter 5, for instance, God says : "Forbidden to you (for food) are : dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine ..." (5:4).

According to Muslim scholars, pork is bad for the soul. It is also bad for one's nature and health. Food when eaten does not merely enter the intestines and become excreta. It is absorbed and metabolized into the system and circulated to all parts of the body, including the brain. So, if pork is consumed, it will in some way affect the human body physically and his nature. How? The natural characteristic of a pig, presented below should give some answers.

Normally people would tend to disassociate with some one with bad character. For instance parents should warn their children from mixing with bad hats for fear of getting them into trouble. The same applies to eating pork in the realm of the soul. Furthermore, people use such derogatory remarks as "As lazy as a pig", "As fat as a pig", "As dirty as a pig", and "As unashamed as a pig".

Why does Islam prohibit drinking?

To consume intoxicants is sinful. In the Quran, the term intoxicants in used to include liquor, drugs and glue sniffing. In Islam, alcohol is totally prohibited because its harm is greater than its gain. God says, "In them (intoxicants and gambling) is great sin, and some profit, but the sin is greater then the profit." (2:219)

Apart from the spiritual reasons involved in making drinking forbidden, one could have learn of the disasters toll on lives drinking have taken. They have been responsible for landing people in a host of troubles such as nuisances, arrests, fights, accidents, killings, suicides, split marriage, alienating children, families, relatives and friends and ruined careers.

Conclusion

Since, God ask Muslims to eat the halal food and forbid the haram food, it is a responsibility for Muslim to avoiding themselves in taking the haram food. They must be ensure that every food that they are taken are halal. There are the hidden reasons for all those in God's instruction. As the good Muslim we have to obey all those instruction for our own good.

The responsibility of a Muslim to a non-Muslim

Introduction

Islam has spread across the world for over 1420 years ago. Through its initial explosion of energy, the religion of Islam in time spread in areas dominated by two great desert complexes, the Saharan and the Arabian. Wherever Muslims ruled, non-Muslims were dealt with in light of their rights enunciated in the Holy Quran, the Sunnah and the evolving corpus of Islamic Jurisprudence.


Hostrical Fact

Islam as a religion has long recognized the right of non-Muslim to practice their religious and cultured values. The well known term of al-zimmah fully describes the notion of full protection given by the Islamic state to its non-Muslims citizens. Ample historical facts are not difficult to be quoted to show how Islamic states treated its non_muslims minorities. The interactions between the Muslims and the one and the non-Muslims on the other hand had fluctuated between cordial, peaceful and mutual co-existence and the state on conflict. But in almost all cases history clearly tells us that Islamic tolerance towards non-Muslims minorities has no parallel in world history.


Types of non-Muslims

Non-Muslims are divided into two types of categories either they are in the household of war which refer to non-Muslims who are not bound by peace truly, or covenant and whose blood and property are not protected by the law. While the second category of non-Muslims is the household of peace which refer to the non-Muslims where this category, there three types of non-Muslims :

• Those in custody - who live in Muslim countries and agree to pay the tribute and they are subject to Islamic law.

• Truce - who sign a peace treaty with Muslims after defeated in war.

• Protected one - the immigrant from outside and come to Islamic states to learn about Islam.






The responsibility of a Muslim to another non-Muslim.

The prophet Muhammad is reported to have said :

"Who hurts a non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state - I am his adversary
on the day of judgment".

"Beware on the day of judgment, I shall, my self be the accuser against
him who wrongs a non-Muslim citizen (of a Muslim state) or lays on
him a responsibility greater than he can bear, or deprives him of
anything that belong to him".


As mentioned in the two hadith, the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asking his nation not to hurt a non -Muslim citizen of a Muslim state. This instruction is not including for the first category of non-Muslim as stated before. Which is refer to non-Muslims who are not bound by peace treaty or covenant and whose blood and property are not protected by the law of Syariah. Since the instruction from the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to Muslim to treat the non-Muslim whose are living in Islamic state . They have right and under the protection of the Islamic law. So, it come a big responsibility to a Muslim treat they as kind as instructed by the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in order to lighting our beloved state in peace and harmony without any conflict as well as war.


Conclusion

When talking about the responsibility of a Muslim to another Muslim, Muslims should concern that the non-Muslims community have the right to know about the beauty of Islam. Muslim community should try to move from a position of more defensive concern, and try to spread the message of Islam the non-Muslim community. Actually, this is a big responsibility for Muslims in which should be done in the very intelligent ways as the Quran and the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) laid a great stress on that matter.

Relationship between neighbours

“Love thy neighbour” – that is how the saying goes.

Islam enjoins everything that is good; regardless if it’s toward yourself, parents, siblings, friends, relatives and in this case extended to neighbours. Kindness to neighbours is very strongly stressed.

Being a good neighbour includes all actions that may suggest care for one another. Greeting them with good wishes and wish them well may be one of it. Having good neighbourliness also means willing to lend a hand whenever your neighbour needs help; be it financially or in kind. Speaking kindly to them is also important and as a good neighbour, we should make it a point to bring our neighbours food sometimes. If we know that they are ill, we should visit them ask about their health.

Losing a relative or someone close to us can be devastating. Notes of condolences and understanding from neighbours can help to alleviate the pain and sufferings. Meanwhile, during joyous and happy moments, we should be the first to be there and extend our congratulations.

In one hadith, the Prophet Muhammad SAW says: “Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day let him be good to his neighbour. Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day let him be hospitable to his guest. Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day let him say something good or be silent.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and others).

Many of Prophet Muhammad’s hadith in relation to good neighbourliness denote that it is something instructed by Allah SWT. So much so, that it is related to believing in Allah SWT and the Day of Judgement.

Islam teaches us to extend a helping hand to our neighbours and assist them in whatever ways that can reduce and remove them from hardships. Needless to say, that when neighbours extend such a treatment to one another, the whole area will benefit a great deal. There will be no poor family suffering the hardships of poverty when other families in the neighbourhood are well off.

Islam wants to establish these types of community in the society. To support this, the Prophet stresses the importance of doing good to our neighbours.

However, living in a society, it is not all fair and happy, there bound to be dissatisfaction and conflicts.

The Prophet says, “For a man to commit adultery with ten women is less of a crime than to commit adultery with his neighbour’s wife.” He then asked them about stealing. They said: ‘It is forbidden. Allah and His messenger have absolutely forbidden it.’ The Prophet said: “For a man to steal from ten houses is less of a crime than stealing from his neighbour’s house.” (Related by Ahmad and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad).

From these hadiths, it is apparent that morality and dishonesty against our neighbours is far worse than the same crime being committed against ten other people who are not one’s neighbours.

As neighbours we are supposed to protect them from any harm and not be a cause of that. These two hadiths from the Prophet tells us that when we are in a position of trust we should uphold that trust.

Having relationships with anyone means trust and to misuse that trust is viewed gravely by Allah SWT. The punishment is much greater than what the same crime earns in the absence of such a relationship.