Rights of Neighbors
Broad Meanings: By neighbor means, people living under one shade. The word 'Aljar' is used in Quran for neighbor and in its explanation are all those people included who live in surrounding of someone. Their rights should be observed and they are given special consideration in relations and dealings. The circle of neighborhood is very large. According to saying of the Holy Prophet, there is neighborhood up to forty houses.
Kinds of Neighbors: There are three kinds of neighbors described in the Holy Quran. It is said by Allah
وَ الْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بالجنب (النساء:36)
Translation: the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet),
Those neighbors who are relatives too:
Non relative neighbor (Even if they are non-Muslims)
Such people with whom there are relations built temporarily. For example, job mates, class mates or travel mates.
Respect and Honor: It is duty of every neighbor living in a society to respect each other. The Holy Prophet said:
"The one who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment should respect his neighbor.
Fair Treatment: Islam 'commands fair treatment with.neighbors. It is obligatory for a Muslim to not treat badly his neighbors and meet them with love and affection.
The Holy Prophet said: In sight of Allah, the best neighbor is that who treats his neighbors nicely.
Avoiding hurting others: It is right of neighbors on each other that they should not hurt each other. Our dear Prophet's said:
That person can not be a believer whose neighbor is not safe from his mischiefs. Once, a woman was mentioned to Prophet that she was very pious; she would observe fasting during day time and would offer Tahajjud Prayer during night time but used to hurt her neighbors. The Holy Prophet said that she was a hell dweller. And another woman was mentioned to him who used to offer obligatory prayers only but would fulfill the rights of her neighbors. The Holy Prophet said that she was a paradise dweller.
Protection of Wealth: The protection of belongings of neighbors should be like one's own. The Holy Prophet said, "Stealing is haram, Allah and. His messenger has regarded it as Haram. The worse than ten times stealing is that someone steals from his neighbors..
The safety of respect and honor: It is duty of every Muslim to protect honor of his neighbor. It is famous saying; a neighbor is like one mother born. It means the right of a neighbor is like a person born from same mother. Therefore, it is must to protect honor and prestige of neighbors. The Holy Prophet said, "A person who believes in Allah and His Prophet, he should respect his neighbor". Gifts: By giving presents love increases among each other. The Holy Prophet said
Translation: "Give resents to each other, love increases because of this act.
"Therefore, the Holy Prophet said, "if any neighbor sends a gift, do not think it as cheap, whether it is pan of a goat".
Possibility of share in inheritance: Hazrat mujahid says that the Holy Prophet insisted so much about neighbors' rights that we thought that there would be a share fixed (for them) in the inheritance.
Assistance and cooperation: Sympathy and sacrifice are must for help and cooperation of neighbor. The Prophet of mercy said, "There will be many neighbors on the Day of Judgment who will catch their neighbor's skirts and they will say, "O Lord, he closed his door on me and used to stop me from daily used objects'. He said on another occasion, "That person can not be a believer, who fills his stomach irrespective of his neighbor's hunger".
At the end, a comprehensive hadees is narrated. Hazrat Muhammad said about rights of neighbor.
If your neighbor needs help, then help him.
If he asks for loan, you give. If he becomes needy, then give him financial help. If he becomes sick, then do his treatment. If he dies, then go with his funeral to graveyard.
If he gets any honor, then greet him. If he faces trouble, then sympathize with him.
Without his permission, do not build your wall so high that his light and air stop.
Right of "Shufa": Although, a neighbor is not an inheritor but he has been given the right of shufa. The Holy Prophet said, "A neighbor has right of shufa so that he should be given priority in sale and purchase of property, he might be saved against pain and his right of neighborhood is secure.
