In Côte d'Ivoire, we often live in a shared courtyard, in a building, in a close-knit neighborhood. The neighbor is someone we see every day. Islam has made the neighbor a major right.
In the Quran
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ
« Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him. Be good to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor and the distant neighbor. » (meaning of the verse, An-Nisa 4:36)
The neighbor comes right after parents, relatives, orphans and the poor. Close by kinship or by doorstep, Muslim or not: everyone has their right.
« To the point that I thought… »
« Jibril kept recommending the neighbor to me, to the point that I thought he would make him an heir » (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6014; Sahih Muslim, no. 2624).
And the Prophet ﷺ swore three times: « By Allah, he does not believe! » It was asked: who, O Messenger of Allah? He said: « The one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm » (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6016).
What this means, concretely
- Do no harm : the noise late at night, loud music, garbage in front of his house, the car blocking his door, dirty water running into his home.
- Honor : « Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor » (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6018; Sahih Muslim, no. 47). A greeting, a visit when he is sick, being present at funerals and celebrations.
- Share : « When you prepare a broth, add more water and think of your neighbors » (Sahih Muslim, no. 2625). You don't need to be rich: a dish, a few fruits are enough.
- Bear with : be patient with his small faults before complaining.
« The best of neighbors in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his neighbor » (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, no. 1944).
Three rights of the neighbor, according to the scholars
| Neighbor | His rights |
|---|---|
| Muslim and relative neighbor | the rights of the neighbor, of Islam and of kinship |
| Muslim neighbor | the rights of the neighbor and of Islam |
| Non-Muslim neighbor | the rights of the neighbor: kindness, security, mutual support |
Dalil and the neighborhood
The death notices published by your mosque on Dalil are there for this: to know in time, so you can go offer your condolences and accompany the janaza. Write annonces to see those of your mosque.