Caring For Neighbors

Allah informed us that neighbors are important segments in the society. Without having good neighbors, people will have a difficult and a miserable life. Accordingly Allah informed us to look after the neighbors, to take care of them, to keep good relations and to make sure that we have good neighbors. In taking care of neighbors, Allah associated them with categories of parents, relatives, and orphans, poor and needy. Allah says: "Serve God, and join not any partners with Him; and do good -- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and what your right hands posses: for God loves not the arrogant, the vainglorious."[4:36]

Allah categorized three types of neighbors that should be taken care of. They are:

I. A relative neighbor.

II. A stranger fellow neighbor.

III. A friend neighbor.

Any Muslim or non-Muslim neighbor is to be taken care of in the best form and in the best manner. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) explained to us how to take care of our neighbors. He also insisted that we should do every possible means to make our neighbors happy and satisfied. As in the following Ahadith: "Angel Jibril advised me continuously to take care of the neighbor till I thought that Allah is to make him an inheritor." [Narrated by Ibn Umar and Aisha] "The best friend in the sight of Allah is the one who is good to his companions; and the best neighbor in the sight of Allah is the one who is good to his neighbors." [Tarmizi] Narrated by (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement, let him do good to his neighbor..."[Narrated by Abi Shuraih Al-Khuza’i, Muslim] "O Abu Zarr! Whenever you cook food, increase its contents, and take care of your neighbors."[Narrated by Abu Zarr Al-Ghaffari, Muslim] "He is not believing in me, the one who sleeps full while his neighbor is hungry. " [Al-Bazar]

Our Prophet (PBUH) warned those who do harm to their neighbors. He informed them that they are not believers, that they will be punished, and they will not enter paradise. In the following Ahadith it was reported: "He will not enter paradise, the one whose neighbor is not safe of him." [Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Muslim] "In the name of Allah, he is not a believer, In the Name of Allah, he is not a believer, In the Name of Allah, he is not a believer. They asked him, who is he O Messenger of Allah! He said: It is he whose neighbor is not safe of him. "[Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Agreed] "Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judge-ment should not harm his neighbor; whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement should be generous to his guest, and whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement should say good or keep silent." [Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Agreed]