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Rules of A Muslim Home-Seventh Rule-Kindness to One’s Neighbour
Among the important rules of a Muslim home is being kind and considerate to one’s neighbours. There are numerous ahaadeeth that explain the rights of the neighbour.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had once mentioned: “Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) has been repeatedly stressing upon me the rights of the neighbour to such an extent that I thought the neighbour would soon be made to inherit in one’s estate.” (Saheeh Bukhaari #6014)
Once the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) enquired from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam): “What are the rights of the neighbour?” He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied:
1. Give him a loan if he seeks a loan.
2. Assist him when he asks for assistance.
3. Visit him when he is ill.
4. Help him if he is needy.
5. Give him financial assistance if he is poor.
6. Congratulate him on happy occasions.
7. Console him in adversity.
8. Accompany his funeral when he dies.
9. Do not build your house higher than his without his permission lest his ventilation may be obstructed.
10. Do not inconvenience him with the fragrance of your food unless you share some with him.
11. If you buy fruit, send some for him. If you cannot do so, take the fruit into your house concealed so that he cannot see it. Do not allow your children to take it out and eat openly in case his children see it and become grieved. (Fathul Baari vol. 10, pg. 547)
In another hadeeth it is mentioned that once Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) took an oath thrice saying, “By Allah, he is not a Believer, By Allah, he is not a Believer, By Allah, he is not a Believer.” Someone asked, “Who is not a Believer?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who’s neighbour is not safe from his ill-treatment.” (Saheeh Bukhaari #6016)
A Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once mentioned to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasul of Allah! So-and-so woman performs nafl salaah at night and keeps nafl fasts during the day. However, she has a wicked tongue with which she harms her neighbours.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “There is no good in her. She will be punished.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was then asked regarding another woman, “O Rasul of Allah! So-and-so woman suffices on performing the fardh (and sunnah) salaah and keeping the fardh fast of Ramadhaan (i.e. she does not engage in abundant nafl worship). However, she gives pieces of cheese in charity, despite not having anything else, and does not cause harm to anybody.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “She will go to Jannah.” (Mustadrak Haakim vol. 4 pg. 166)
When Moulana Qaasim ‘Ali (rahimahullah), a prominent ‘aalim of South Africa, moved to a new residential area in Gauteng, he went to meet and introduce himself to all his neighbours. He also left his name and phone number with them and encouraged them to at once contact him if they were, at any time, in need of help.
Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) had a neighbour in Kufa who was a cobbler. He would spend the entire day plying his trade and when night would set in, he would return home with some meat or fish which he would prepare. He would thereafter drink wine until he would become completely intoxicated. He would sing in this drunken state, disturbing all his neighbours, and would only stop when sleep had overpowered him. Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) would spend the entire night in salaah and would thus hear the racket raised by his neighbour. One night, contrary to the norm, Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) did not hear the singing of his neighbour. On enquiring, he found out that the police had arrested him. The next morning, immediately after fajr salaah, Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) went to the governor of the city. The governor received him with honour and respect and asked him if he needed anything. Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) replied, “One of my neighbours has been arrested. I request the governor to release him.” The governor ordered the release of Imaam Abu Haneefah’s (rahimahullah) neighbour as well as all the other prisoners who had been arrested from the night of the cobbler’s arrest. As Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) was returning from the governor's home, his neighbour, who was now released, said to him, “You have saved me and seen to my needs. May Allah Ta‘ala reward you well for being a concerned and honourable neighbour.” The cobbler was so affected by the conduct of Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) that he there and then repented from drinking alcohol and never returned to it again. (Taareekh Baghdad vol. 13 pg. 363)
Moulana Mia Asghar Husain (rahimahullah) was a great, pious, saintly ‘aalim of India. He lived in a mud hut among other poor people of his village. Every year, during the monsoon, his house would get damaged by the rains and it would cost him both money and time to repair the damage and re-plaster the walls. One of his students, Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ (rahimahullah), once suggested to him, “Why don’t you spend some money and build a brick structure? In this way, you won’t have to take the trouble of repairing the damaged house every year and the cost of the brick structure will be recovered in a few years.” Moulana (rahimahullah) replied, “Yes, that is indeed a very good idea.” However, after some time, he spoke and explained that he was not prepared to do this saying, “My neighbours are all very poor. They cannot afford living in a brick house. If I build a solid home for myself, my neighbours may feel grieved over the fact that they cannot live in such a home due to their poverty and I don’t have the means to construct such homes for all my neighbours.” Moulana Mia Asghar Husain (rahimahullah) only renovated his home after his neighbours had themselves renovated their homes. (Chand Azeem Shakhsiyyaat pg. 48)
May Allah Ta‘ala bless us with the ability of fulfilling the rights of our neighbours, aameen.