Conciliation and Neighborhood Rulings

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that Jibrīl continued to instruct him that the neighbor, who lives next to one's house, be he a Muslim or a disbeliever, should be taken care of, not hurt, and treated kindly, his rights should be observed, and harm from them should be endured, to the extent that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) thought, due to the great attention given to the neighbor's rights and Jibrīl's repeated instruction about this, that there will come down revelation that gives his neighbor part of his inheritance after his death.

1. The Hadīth points out the significance of the neighbor's rights and the duty to observe them.
2. The repeated instruction regarding the neighbor's rights entails that we should honor him, treat him in a kind and benevolent manner, avert harm from him, visit him if he gets sick, congratulate him upon the occurrence of something pleasant, and give him solace upon affliction.
3. The closer the neighbor's door is, the greater the emphasis upon his right.
4. The Hadīth shows the perfection of the Shariah and its teachings that achieve the well-being of society, such as kindness to the neighbors and averting harm from them.

صحيح البخاري (8/ 10) (6014)، (8/ 10) (6015). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2025) (2624)، (4/ 2025) (2625). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين (1/ 300). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 175).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged Abu Dharr al-Ghifāri (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he cooks broth, he should increase its water and its stock, and he should take care of his neighbors and check on them therewith.

1. Encouraging kind treatment of neighbors.
2. It is recommended to exchange gifts among neighbors, as it fosters love and increases affection. This exchange is especially encouraged if the food has a pleasant smell and the need of the neighbor is known.
3. The encouragement to do good and offer whatever is possible, even if it is little, and to bring joy to fellow Muslims.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2025) (2625). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 386). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 175). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 301).

Neighbors have rights that must be fulfilled. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged Muslims to maintain good relations with their neighbors. In this respect, he said that Jibrīl kept reminding him of the neighbor's right until he thought that the neighbor would be assigned a share of the inheritance, due to the significance of the neighbor's right and his entitlement to kind treatment. Hence, there should be a good and healthy relationship between neighbors where the rights of neighborhood are observed and harmful words and acts are avoided. A sign of being kind to one's neighbor and of observing his rights is to be willing to benefit him in a way that does not inflict much harm on oneself. For example, when a neighbor wishes, for his own convenience, to fix a wooden bar into the wall of his neighbor, the latter should allow him to do so on two conditions: there is a need for that; and there is no negative impact on him. The ruler may even force one to allow his neighbor's insertion of wood into his wall. If the owner of the wall is harmed or there is no need for the insertion of wood, then a negative impact should not be eliminated by something similar. The principle is that no harm is to be inflicted on a Muslim. Since Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) recognized the wise purpose of that confirmed act of Sunnah, he condemned people for not acting on it. He even threatened to force them to act upon it in fulfillment of the rights of neighbors which Allah, the Almighty, has enjoined. Finally, Muslim scholars have unanimously agreed on forbidding the insertion of wood into the neighbor’s wall, if this would harm the neighbor, except with his permission. Indeed, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There should be neither harm nor malice.”

- صحيح البخاري، للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم، للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، للشيخ إسماعيل الأنصاري، مطبعة السعادة، الطبعة الثانية 1392هـ. - تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، عبد الله البسام، تحقيق محمد صبحي حسن حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة، الشارقة، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore and confirmed his oath three times, saying: By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe. The Companions asked him: Who does not believe, O Messenger of Allah? He replied: The one whose neighbor fears his treachery, oppression, and evil.

1. Negating faith from the one whose neighbor does not feel safe from his oppression and evil indicates that it is a major sin and that the person committing it has a deficient faith.
2. Strongly urging kind treatment of one's neighbor and refraining from harming him with words or actions.

صحيح البخاري (8/ 10) (6016). التوضيح لشرح الجامع الصحيح (28/ 321). النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (93).