90: Good Relationships (Part 6) ~ Neighborliness
Serve Allah, and associate not anyone with Him; and do good … to parents, to kinsfolk, to orphans, to those in need, to neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer ... [Qur'an 4:36]
Close in Proximity, Dear to Heart
Since neighbors very often come in contact with one another due to the proximity of their residences, good behavior and misbehavior will have more effect on neighbors than on others social relations. Islam thus emphasizes that relations with neighbors be of the highest quality.
The Prophet (pbuh) said; "Whosoever believes in Allah and the Day of Accountability should honor his neighbor/ be good to the neighbor."
Almost Family
According to Islam, the neighbor is the closest relation to family.
The Prophet said, “Angel Gabriel kept on referring to the status of the neighbor that I thought that neighbors may inherit from a person.”
Jesus/’Isa (pbuh) is reported to have commanded: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." [Matthew 19:19]
You Are as Good as You are Good To Your Neighbor
We operate in communities sometimes for years taking our neighbors for granted; often never realizing that the ‘people next door’ can become our greatest allies, or our most vocal opposition. They have concerns about what we do and how we do it and how it impacts their health and safety. When ignored or kept uninformed, our neighbors can force seemingly minor issues into major problems. On the other hand, neighbors can become our greatest supporters, almost an extension of the family. Neighbors are often like a looking glass or a mirror.
Someone once came to the Prophet and asked, "“Inform me about something that will cause me to go to heaven?" The Prophet replied: "Be a muhsin/good doer." The man asked, "O Prophet, how will I know that I am a good person?" The Prophet replied: "Ask your neighbor. If your neighbor says you are good, then indeed you must be good.”
Duty Towards Neighbor
The great jurist, Imam Nasr Samarqandi stated that good neighborliness includes four principles:
- To comfort the neighbor in times of difficulty.
Your own safety is at stake when your neighbor's house is in flames. [ Roman Philosopher, Horace] - Not to enviously desire what the neighbor has.
- Not to cause the neighbor any harm.
The Prophet (pbuh) repeatedly said; "That person will not enter Paradise.
He was asked who will not enter Paradise?
The Prophet replied; “that person whose neighbor is not safe from his harm." - To bear the inconvenience the neighbor may cause you.
The Prophet had a Jewish neighbor who used to throw daily trash at the door of the Prophet. When this did not happen for some days, the Prophet went to visit him. He asked the Prophet the reason for the visit. The Prophet said: “I did not find what you usually leave at my door so I thought you may be ill and I therefore came to visit you.” The Jewish neighbor asked, “Does your religion teach you to do that, O Muhammad?” “In fact, more than that,” replied the Prophet. The Jewish neighbor went silent for a while, then said; “I bear witness that I believe in Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s messenger.”