Sunnats and Aadaab of Rendering Service to People – Part 9

1. Showing kindness to one’s neighbours and rendering assistance to them has been greatly emphasized in Islam and is regarded as an act of great virtue. In the Qur’aan Majeed and Mubaarak Ahaadith, great emphasis has been laid upon upholding the rights of neighbours.

In the Qur’aan Majeed, Allah Ta’ala says: “Show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the close neighbour, the distant neighbour and the companion at your side.” (Surah Nisaa v. 36)

وعن ابن عباس قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ليس المؤمن الذي يشبع وجاره جائع. رواه الطبراني وأبو يعلى، ورجاله ثقات (مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 13555)

Hazrat ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “A true believer is not one who eats to his fill while (knowing that) his neighbour remains in the state of hunger.”

عن مجاهد، أن عبد الله بن عمرو ذبحت له شاة في أهله، فلما جاء قال: أهديتم لجارنا اليهودي؟ أهديتم لجارنا اليهودي؟ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: ما زال جبريل يوصيني بالجار حتى ظننت أنه سيورثه (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1943)

Hazrat Mujaahid (rahimahullah) reports that on one occasion, a goat was slaughtered in the home of Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and its meat was prepared. Upon arriving home, he enquired from his respected household, “Did you send any portion of the meat for our Jewish neighbour? Did you send any portion of the meat for our Jewish neighbour? I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) say, ‘Hazrat Jibra’eel (‘alaihis salaam) continued to emphasize the rights of the neighbour to me to such an extent that I thought (that on account of the great rights he holds in deen), perhaps Allah Ta’ala will even include him among a person’s heirs.’”