JUMAT SERMON: Islam And The Rights Of Neighbours
By Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi
ALL praise is due to Allaah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the day of Judgment.
Islaam puts a deep emphasis on our individual duty to our neighbors. Five of the obligations include: 1. You must help him if he asks for your help, 2. Give him relief if he seeks your relief, 3. Lend him if he needs a loan, 4. Do not block his air by raising your building high without his permission and 5. Do not harass him.
Being Muslims, we have a duty to be attentive, kindhearted and loving neighbors, regardless of who lives in our community. Taking verses from both the Holy Qur’aan and Hadiths of our Prophet, Islamic traditions teach us to take care of those around us.
Let us consider verses of the Holy Quran, as well as the Hadiths of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which remind us that in order to be true worshippers of Allaah , we must care and love those around us in this world:
Surah an-Nisa, Quran 4:36 says: “Serve Allah and ascribe no partner to Him. Do good to your parents, to near of kin, to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbour who is of kin and to the neighbour who is a stranger, and to the companion by your side, and to the wayfarer, and to those whom your right hands possess.”
When asked what the rights of the neighbour are, the Prophet Muhammad answered: “The least of a neighbour’s rights on him is that if he asks him for a loan he should grant it to him. If he asks for help, he should help him and if he wants to borrow something from him, he should lend it to him. If he needs him to donate something to him, he should do so. If he invites him, he should accept his invitation. If he gets sick, he should go and visit him. If he passes away, he should attend his funeral procession. (Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, 2:79)
Al-Hasan was asked about the neighbour and said: “The term ‘neighbour’ includes the forty houses in front of a person, the forty houses behind him, the forty houses on his right and the forty houses on his left.” (al-Adab al-Mufrad, 06:09).
Those who fulfill the rights of neighbours are blessed.
After describing the rights of neighbors, the Prophet Muhammad is reported to have stated: “Listen to what I tell you. Only a few people who are blessed by Allaah’s Mercy fulfill the rights of neighbours. Allaah enjoined on me the rights of the neighbour to the extent that I thought He would appoint him as an heir.” (Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, 2:79)
Respecting neighbors is a duty upon Muslims
The Prophet Muhammad stated: “Whoever believes in Allaah and the Final Day should not trouble his neighbours.” (Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, 2:78-79).
Be kind to your neighbors
Abu Shurayh al-Khuza’i reported that the Prophet, said: “Anyone who believes in Allaah and the Last Day should be good to his neighbours. Anyone who believes in Allaah and the Last Day should be generous to his guest. Anyone who believes in Allaah and the Last Day should say what is good or be silent”. (al-Adab al-Mufrad, 06:02).
Helping out a neighbor in need may end up helping you as well
Treating one’s neighbours with kindness and being a good neighbour will result in an increase in one’s share of daily bread and the development of towns. (Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, 2:78-79).
Not troubling your neighbours.
The Prophet is reported to have stated in regards to not troubling or intimidating one’s neighbours: “The neighbour because of whom one locks the door, out of fear for one’s family and wealth, is not a believer. (Tafsir-i-Namunah, 3:380-381).
You must not bother your neighbors
Abu Hurayra said: “The Prophet, may Allaah bless Him and grant Him peace, was asked, ‘Messenger of Allaah! A certain woman prays in the night, fasts in the day, acts and gives sadaqah, but injures her neighbours with her tongue.’ The Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah said” ‘There is no good in her. She is one of the people of the fire.” They said, ‘Another woman prays the prescribed prayers and gives bits of curd as sadaqah and does not injure anyone.’ The Messenger of Allah said: ‘She is one of the people of the Garden”. (al-Adab al-Mufrad, 06:19).
Islam means helping your community and neighbours. A man is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbour is hungry. (al-Adab al-Mufrad, 06:12).
May Allaah Almighty make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the entire Muslims. And our last prayer, is praise be to Allaah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.
