The Rights of the Neighbour

عن معاوية بن حيدة رضي الله عنه قال : قلت : يا رسول الله ما حق جاري ؟ قال : إن مرض عدته وإن مات شيعته وإن استقرضك أقرضته وإن أعوز سترته وإن أصابه خير هنأته وإن أصابته مصيبة عزيته ولا ترفع بناءك فوق بنائه فتسد عليه الريح ولا تؤذه بريح قدرك إلا أن تغرف له منها رواه الطبراني وفيه أبو بكر الهذلي وهو ضعيف (مجمع الزوائد رقم 13545)

Hadhrat Mu'aawiya bin Haydah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that he once asked Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam): “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), what are the rights of my neighbours?” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “You should visit him (and show concern) when he falls ill, attend his funeral when he passes away, provide him a loan if he seeks it from you, and if he falls in difficulty through poverty, then you should conceal his poverty (i.e. through helping him in a way that no one else comes to know). You should also congratulate him if some good comes his way and sympathise with him when a calamity befalls him. Furthermore, you should not raise your building higher than his, thus becoming the means for obstructing the ventilation of his house. Do not cause inconvenience to him through the aroma (which emanates) from your utensil (deg etc. while cooking i.e. on account of him not being able to afford this type of meal, do not cause him pain over his poverty through smelling the aroma of the food which you prepare e.g. at a braai) unless you intend dishing out some of the food for him (and sharing it with him).” (Majma’uz Zawaaid; Hayaatus Sahaabah)