“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.
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.
