Showing Regard to the Neighbour

عن أبي هريرة قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول يا نساء المسلمات لا تحقرن جارة لجارتها ولو فرسن شاة (بخاري 6017)

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “O muslim women, a neighbour should never regard insignificant the small favours and kindness she can show to her, even if she sends trotters to her.

Concern for the Neighbour

Abdullah bin Ukht Muslim bin Sa’d (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) says: “I decided to proceed for Hajj, and my uncle handed me ten thousand dirhams with the instruction that they should be distributed to the poorest household in Madinah Munawwarah. When I arrived, I made enquiries, and was directed to a particular home. I knocked at the door and a woman opened. Upon enquiry of who I was, I replied: “I am from Baghdad and have ten thousand dirhams in my possession. I have been instructed to hand these over to the poorest household in Madinah Munawwarah, and I was directed to your home. Please take them.”

She replied: “The person who sent you with this money specified that it should be given to the poorest household. The family next door is more deserving than us.”

I thus proceeded to the family next door. I knocked and a woman answered. I explained the reason for my coming and she replied, “Our neighbour and us are equally poor. You should distribute the money equally between us.”