Sunnats and Aadaab when dealing with neighbours – 2

4. One should ensure that he does not become a means of any inconvenience being caused to his neighbour at any time through his words or actions.

If one returns home late at night, he should not hoot or make noise, thereby disturbing the neighbourhood.

If there is a function at his home, then he should ensure that his guests do not park their vehicles in front of his neighbour’s driveway or entrance, thereby causing his neighbour/neighbours inconvenience.

عن أبي شريح رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال والله لا يؤمن والله لا يؤمن والله لا يؤمن قيل ومن يا رسول الله قال الذي لا يأمن جاره بوايقه (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 6016)

Hazrat Abu Shuraih (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “I take an oath on Allah Ta’ala, he can never be a perfect believer, I take an oath on Allah Ta’ala, he can never be a perfect believer, I take an oath on Allah Ta’ala, he can never be a perfect believer. A Sahaabi enquired: “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), who are you referring to?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “The one whose neighbour is not safe from his harm and evil.” (i.e. he causes inconvenience to his neighbour through his words or actions).

5. If some special dish is prepared at one’s home, then if it possible for him to send a portion of the food to his neighbour, he should do so.

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) relates that on one occasion, a goat was slaughtered in the home of Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) (and its meat was prepared). Upon arriving home, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) 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 (alayhis 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 the neighbour enjoys in deen), perhaps Allah Ta’ala will even include him among a person’s heirs.’”

6. If one’s neighbour is a non-muslim, then when dealing with him, one should be kind and considerate to him in a manner that one does not compromise in his deeni values or surpass the bounds of shariah.

Though Islam commands a believer to be kind when dealing with his non-muslim neighbour, but at the same time, Islam commands him to maintain the limits of Shariah.

A believer is not permitted to take the kuffaar as close friends and share the bond of love with them. Sharing the bond of love and close friendship is exclusive to the believers. Through a believer befriending the kuffaar and becoming close to them, he will invariably become influenced by their ways and culture. Thereafter, he will begin to emulate them in their ways, dressing, outlook, culture and values. This will ultimately result in him neglecting or compromising his obligations which he owes to Allah Ta’ala and the believers. Once he is inclined towards their ways and culture, he will begin to live like them and idealise their values, and ultimately, he will abandon his own Islamic culture and values.

Therefore, a believer should remember at all times that his non-muslim neighbour does not share the same religion with him, and thus he should not become too close to him. He should not call his non-muslim neighbour home for a meal or for a family function, etc., and likewise, he should not go to his non-muslim neighbour’s home for a meal or for a family function, etc., as this will increase their bond of friendship and closeness.

If his non-muslim neighbour invites him to his home for a meal or for a function, then he should present some excuse and decline the invitation.

If he accepts the invitation and attends, he will be bound to break the laws of Shari’ah as in the home of his non muslim neighbour, there will be idols, statues, music playing, pictures of animate objects and other haraam elements found.

Apart from this, his non-muslim neighbour will not uphold the laws of purdah, the laws of halaal and haraam, etc. and through going to his home and becoming too close to him, one will definitely begin to compromise in his deeni principles and values.

In the Qur’aan Majeed, Allah Ta’ala prohibits the believers from taking the kuffaar as close associates and friends. Allah Ta’ala says:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَاتَتَّخِذُوا الْکٰفِرِیْنَ اَوْلِیَاۤءَ مِنْ دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ

O you who believe! Do not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers! (Surah Nisaa v. 144)

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْیَهُوْدَ وَالنَّصٰرٰۤی اَوْلِیَاۤءَ بَعْضُهُمْ اَوْلِیَاۤءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَنْ یَّتَوَلَّهُمْ مِّنْکُمْ فَاِنَّه مِنْهُمْ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یَهْدِی الْقَوْمَ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ

O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and Christians as friends! They are friends of one another. And whoever befriends them from you, then he is one of them. Indeed, Allah Ta’ala does not guide the transgressors (to the right path). (Surah Maa’idah v. 51)

عن أبي سعيد، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: لا تصاحب إلا مؤمنا ولا يأكل طعامك إلا تقي (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4832)

Hazrat Abu Sa’eed (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do not take anyone as a companion and friend besides a mu’min (believer), and none should eat of your food except the pious (i.e. one should invite pious people to his home as his guests).”

عن أبي هريرة، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: الرجل على دين خليله، فلينظر أحدكم من يخالل (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4833)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “A man follows the ways of his friend, therefore one should be careful as to who one befriends.”

7. If one’s non-Muslim neighbour is celebrating any of his celebrations or customs (e.g. diwali, easter, christmas, new years, birthdays, valentines, etc.) then one should not congratulate him, and nor go to his home if one is invited.

These celebrations and customs are based on kufr and shirk and oppose the deen of Islam.

A Muslim should be loyal to Allah Ta’ala at all times and he should not break the commands of Allah Ta’ala to please people.

Therefore, a Muslim should understand the limits of shariah when dealing with his non-Muslim neighbours.

عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه أنه قال: اجتنبوا أعداء الله اليهود والنصارى في عيدهم يوم جمعهم فإن السخط ينزل عليهم فأخشى أن يصيبكم ولا تعلموا بطانتهم فتخلقوا بخلقهم (شعب الإيمان، الرقم: 8940)

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned, “Refrain from emulating the enemies of Allah Ta’ala, the Jews and Christians, in their celebrations, for indeed the anger of Allah Ta’ala descends upon them. I fear that (if you participate in any of their celebrations,) the anger of Allah Ta’ala will descend upon you. When you do not know their inner condition (and the hatred they have for Islam in their hearts), then how is it that you adopt their ways and mannerisms?!”

عن عبد اللَّه بن عمرو قال: من بنى ببلاد الأعاجم وصنع نيروزهم ومهرجانهم وتشبه بهم حتى يموت وهو كذلك حشر معهم يوم القيامة قال الخطابي: الصواب: تَنَى: أقام (المهذب في اختصار السنن الكبير، الرقم: 14659)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) once said, “The one who resides in the land of the disbelievers, participates in their New Year celebration and other celebrations and emulates them until he dies in that state, he will be resurrected with them on the Day of Qiyaamah.”

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned:

إنا كنا أذل قوم فأعزنا الله بالإسلام فمهما نطلب العز بغير ما أعزنا الله به أذلنا الله

“We were the most disgraced of people. Allah Ta’ala then gave us honour through Islam. If we ever seek honour in something besides that through which Allah Ta’ala has honoured us (Islam), Allah Ta’ala will disgrace us.”

عن ابن عمر قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم. (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4033)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who emulates a people will be counted from amongst them (in the sight of Allah Ta’ala).”