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Neighbors' Rights in Islam

Definition of the "neighbor" in Islam

First of all you have to know that (Neighbor) covers both Muslims and non-Muslims be them religious or not, friends or enemies, foreigners or not, who treats you well or not, relatives or strangers.

Scholars differed in the extent of "Neighborhood":

  • Al-Auzai and Ibn Shihab said: "Forty houses in each direction"

  • Ali Ibn Abi Talib said: "Whoever hears the call (for prayer) is a neighbor"

  • Some scholars say:" Whoever hears the Iqama (call immediately preceding prayer, given within the mosque rather than from the minaret) is a neighbor of that mosque"

  • Other scholars said:" Whoever lives with a man in a locality or city is a neighbor"

  • Other scholars consider the traveling companion as a neighbor because he shares one's physical space.