253- Holy Qur’an on Mannerism-6 : Dealing with the Neighbors (Series: Inviting Reflections)

The following verse is from Surah Al-Nisa’ revealed after the Battle of Uhad in Madina, when, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was shaping a New Emerging Muslim Community and a New Social Structure was being introduced. In this verse, the believers have been ordained to take care of their neighbors in order to create a congenial whole and a caring society. The verse also stresses the essential Unity of Mankind and the mutual obligations, arising from the kinship or neighborhood, of men and women towards one another. It reads:

??????????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ??????? ??????????? ?????????????? ??????????????? ?????????? ??? ??????????? ?????????? ????????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ??????????????????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????????? ???????? (Worship Allah, and ascribe no partners to Him, and be good to the parents, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the poors, and the neighbors next door, and the distant neighbors, and the close associates, and the travelers, and your servants. Allah does not love the arrogant showoff). Surah: 4, Verse: 36. 

This verse signifies that one should have good and courteous behavior towards their next door and distant neighbors and other acquaintances, regardless of their social status. The same has been emphasized by the Prophet, peace be upon him, and it appears as if, in the Islamic Social System, the neighborhood is next to your own household in importance. It should be noted that to take care of the neighbors is ordained regardless of their creed, colour and social status. In this regard, both of the two largest collections of hadith: Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, have reported the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, saying: 

?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??????: ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????:" ??? ????? ?????????? ??????????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ????? ????????????? (On the authority of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar RA and ‘Ayesha RA, it is reported that the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “ The angel Jibra’il has been constantly advising me about the neighbors [to look after and to take care of them] that I thought [probably] Allah may make them partner (heirs) in the inheritance”. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith # 6014; Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 2624.

The believers have also been ordained to share food and consumables with their needy and poor neighbors. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is reported to have said:

?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????: ????? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????: "??? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ? ????????? ???????? ? ?? ????????? ??????????? (On authority of Abu Dhar RA it is reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to him: “O Abu Dhar! If you cook broth or gravy in your house, add some extra water in it; and then share it with your neighbors”. Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 2625.

In another hadith, the Prophet, peace be upon, is reported to have sworn by Allah three times and then said: “He is not a believer in Allah”. When asked whom he referred to? The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

".....?????? ?? ??????? ???????  ??????????? " (I swear by Allah he is not a believer whose neighbor is not safe from his mischief and troublemaking”. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith # 6016. 

In another hadith the importance of neighborhood is highlighted in a more explicit way:

 ?? ???? ?????????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?????: ????? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????: "?????? ??????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????? ? ?? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????????? (On the authority of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar RA it is reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Best of the people, in the eyes of Allah-the Exalted, are those who are more useful for their companions; and, the best of the neighbors, in the eyes of Allah-the Exalted, are those who are more useful for their neighbors”. Jami’ Tirmidhi, Hadith # 1944. 

Islamic Injunctions relate to all walks of human life and enjoin taqwa---a continuous feeling of accountability before Allah on the Day of Judgement, which is the basis of all social manifestations in the life of a believer. A sound family structure is the foundation of a healthy society and taking care of the neighborhood, respecting the cultural and ethnic pluralism in the contemporary times, can be a tool for building a real Global Village, a place to live in with respect and dignity.