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Neighbors' Rights in Islam

Practical Examples from the life of our Noble Prophet's companions, May Allah be pleased with them

There are lots of examples that demonstrate how the prophet's Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, followed his teachings as regards treating neighbors some of these examples are:

  • Reports say that Abd Allah Ibn AlMubarak had a Jew neighbour who wanted to sell his house. He asked the buyer for two thousand, the buyer said the house was only worth one thousand. The Jew neighbour said: "Right, but the neighbourhood of Abd Allah Ibn AlMubarak in worth another thousand". When Abd Allah knew he sent the neighbour the two thousand and told him not to sell it.

  • Mujahid said: I was with Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Alaas while his servant was skinning a sheep. He said, "Boy! When you finish, start with the Jewish neighbor." A man there exclaimed, "Jewish? May Allah correct you!" He replied, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, recommend that we treat our neighbors well until we thought that he would order us to make them our heirs." [Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, No.128]

  • Abu Gahm AlAdawi sold his house for a hundred thousand derham then he asked the buyer: "How much will you pay for the neighborhood of Saiid Ibn Elaas?" The man replied: "Does anyone buy the neighborhood of another?" Immediately Abu Gahm replied: "Then give me back my house for by Allah I shall not sell the neighborhood of a man who will ask for me if I am absent, will welcome me when he sees me, If I am absent he will guard my back..."and he kept on explaining the good qualities of his neighbor and refused to sell the house

  • The famous Islamic scholar Imam Abu Hanifa had a drunkard neighbor who used to return at the end of the night totally drunk then would start to sing. One day the Imam didn't hear his singing so he asked and knew that he was arrested for being drunk. The Imam went straight to the prince and asked him to release the neighbor. When he was released from prison he promised the Imam never to drink again. The Imam gave him ten Dinars to help him to start a new life. From that day the man started learning from the Imam till he finally became one of the famous scholars in Kufa, Iraq