Islam’s Emphasis on Respecting Rights of Neighbors
Today’s social life is impossible without abiding by defined regulations as any violation creates problems for the community and social ties.
One of the important social issues is the one related to neighbors. The manner people treat neighbors differs from culture to culture but the central point is to respect the regulations and ethics.
Religiously speaking, neighbors have a special position as they are often mentioned among the “closest” to individuals. This is why some rights have been defined in relation to neighbors and following them will not only bring positive results in this world but also will lead to rewards in the Hereafter.
The rights of neighbors are so important that the Holy Quran and faith leaders have offered various recommendations in this regard. For instance, the Holy Quran points to the need to respect neighbors as we read: “Worship God and consider no one equal to Him. Be kind to your parents, relatives, orphans, the destitute, your near and distant neighbors, your companions, wayfarers, and your slaves. God does not love the proud and boastful ones.” (Surah An-Nisa, verse 36)
Or in Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), respecting a neighbor has been described as equal to respecting one’s mother. “The reverence of a neighbor incumbent on the neighbor is like the reverence due to one’s mother.” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 76, p.154)
Every individual is required to be aware of the condition of their neighbor and stand by them in hard times. Talking about the rights of neighbors, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) named some of the rights: to help them if asked to, to lend them money if asked to, to fulfill their needs, to condole them if they suffer a loss or problem, to congratulate them on happy occasions. (Nahj al-Fasaha, P. 291)
In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) names another right; to present them with a basket of fruits when you buy them for yourself and if you do not want to do so, hide them so that neighbors would not regret your food and fruits, to give them a dish of food when you cook a sweet-smelling food. (Kitab al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 666)
Another point that has been discussed is the geographical extent of one’s neighbors. Imam Sadiq (AS) says forty homes from each side are considered neighbors.
