Hadiths on Kindness to Neighbors
Numerous prophetic traditions emphasize the importance of treating neighbors with kindness and respect. Here are some notable hadiths on this subject:
- Abu Shuhayb Al-‘Adawi Khuwailid bin Amr -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbor kindly, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.”
- Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- stated: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent; whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his neighbor; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.”
- Abdullah bin Umar -may Allah be pleased with both of them- quoted the Prophet -peace be upon him- saying: “Gabriel continued to advise me about neighbors until I thought that he would inherit them.”
- Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-‘As -may Allah be pleased with them both- related that the Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “The best companions in the sight of Allah are the best to their companions, and the best neighbors in the sight of Allah are the best to their neighbors.”
- Aisha, the Mother of the Believers -may Allah be pleased with her- said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah, ‘I have two neighbors, to whom should I send a gift?’ He replied: ‘To the one whose door is closest to you.’
- Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- said: “O Muslim women, do not belittle any neighbor, even if it is just a small portion of a sheep.”
Hadiths on the Rights of Neighbors
The rights of neighbors are well-established in Islamic jurisprudence, and scholars have elaborated on these rights based on specific religious texts. Below are some hadiths that delineate these rights:
- Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- said: “No neighbor should prevent his neighbor from planting a post in his wall.” Abu Huraira then remarked: “Why are you turning away from this? By Allah, I will throw it among you.”
- Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari -may Allah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet -peace be upon him- advised me: “When you cook broth, make it plentiful in water, and then look for a family among your neighbors to share it with them.”
- Additionally, various weak hadiths mention the rights of neighbors and the importance of feeding them when they are hungry. Some include:
- Muawiyah bin Hudhayfah Al-Qushayri -may Allah be pleased with him- said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah, ‘What are the rights of a neighbor over me?’ He replied: ‘If he falls ill, visit him; if he dies, follow his funeral; if he asks to borrow something, lend it to him; and if he is in need, cover him.'”
- From the chain of Amr bin Shu’ayb, the Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “Whoever closes his door against his neighbor out of fear for his family and wealth, is not a believer, and he is not a believer whose neighbors do not feel safe from his harm. Do you know the rights of neighbors? If they seek your help, assist them; if they request a loan, lend it; if they suffer, visit them; if they are afflicted with good fortune, congratulate them; if they face a calamity, console them; and when they pass away, attend their funeral. Do not build high without their permission to avoid blocking the wind for them, and do not harm them with the smoke of your cooking pot unless you share with them. If you buy fruit, share with them; if you do not wish to share, then bring it into your home secretly and do not send your child out to provoke their child with it.’ Scholars have indicated that this narration is attributed to the narrator rather than being explicitly from the Prophet -peace be upon him-.
Hadiths Warning Against Harmful Behavior Towards Neighbors
The Prophet -peace be upon him- warned against causing harm to neighbors and highlighted the gravity of such actions. Numerous hadiths convey the seriousness of offending neighbors, including:
- Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor. Treat women kindly; they are created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is its uppermost. If you try to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so treat women kindly.”
- Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- also conveyed that the Prophet -peace be upon him- stated: “No one will enter Paradise if his neighbor does not feel safe from his evils.”
- Anas bin Malik -may Allah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “A believer is the one from whom people are safe, and a Muslim is the one from whom Muslims are safe from his words and actions. A migrant is the one who forsakes wrongdoing. By the One who holds my soul, no servant shall enter Paradise who does not ensure the safety of his neighbor from his evil.”
- Abu Shuhayb Al-‘Adawi Khuwailid bin Amr -may Allah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet -peace be upon him- emphasized: “By Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe!” It was asked, “Who, O Messenger of Allah?” He answered: “The one whose neighbor does not feel safe from his harm.”
- Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- also mentioned a conversation where a man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, such and such woman is noted for her many prayers, charity, and fasting, but she harms her neighbors with her tongue.” He replied: “She is in the Fire.” The man asked, “What about such and such woman who prays little, gives little charity, and fasts little, but does not harm her neighbors with her tongue?” He replied: “She is in Paradise.”
- Additionally, some weak hadiths illustrate the severity and prohibition of theft from neighbors and infidelity with their spouses. For instance, it was reported in Musnad Ahmad by Al-Miqdadi bin Al-Aswad -may Allah be pleased with him- that the Prophet -peace be upon him- asked his companions: “What do you think of adultery?” They replied: “It is forbidden by Allah and His Messenger; it remains prohibited until the Day of Judgment.” Then the Prophet stated: “For a man to commit adultery with ten women is easier for him than to commit adultery with his neighbor’s wife.” He further queried, “What do you think about theft?” They replied: “It is likewise forbidden.” He added: “For a man to steal from ten houses is easier for him than stealing from his neighbor.