Neighbors' Rights in Islam
Practical Examples from the life of our Noble Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him
- Our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had a Jewish neighbor. This neighbor would always throw rubbish at the Prophet’s doorstep everyday. Instead of treating his neighbor the same way or reacting to him harshly, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would instead patiently dispose of the rubbish, and this same thing would happen daily… until one day when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stepped out of his home and saw that there was no rubbish at his doorstep. Out of concern for his neighbor, he went to the neighbor’s home to check up on them. Upon seeing his neighbor ill and in bed, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, began taking care of him.
A man came to our noble Prophet and complained about his neighbor ill-treatment to him. For three times the Prophet advised him to be patient. The fourth time Our Prophet advised him, ‘Today is Friday. Go home and place your household baggage on the main street where people can see it. When they ask you the reason tell them that your neighbor’s behaviour is unbearable. Thus, everyone will learn about your complaint.’
The man followed the Holy Prophet’s advice to the letter. Whenever people passed by him they would ask for the reason of his departure. Everybody refused the neighbors behavior. As soon as he learnt that his neighbor had decided to place his complains into the people’s court, and was apprising them of his behaviour, he got unnerved, and begging forgiveness, requested him to take his baggage back to his house. He promised never to bother him again.
Al-Tirmidhi (2470) narrated that a sheep was slaughtered at the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and given in charity except for its shoulder. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked ‘A’ishah, "What is left of it?" She said: "Nothing is left except the shoulder." He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "All of it will remain except its shoulder."
This means that whatever a person eats is that which is gone and no longer remains, but that which he gives in charity is what will remain for him with Allah and he will benefit from it on the Day of Resurrection. This hadeeth is a reference to the verse in which Allah says:
"Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah (of good deeds) will remain" (Surah Nahl: 96)
