Rights of Neighbors in Islam

The rights of neighbors hold an extraordinarily high status in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Jibril kept advising me about the rights of the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim). This remarkable statement shows that the angel of revelation emphasized the neighbor's rights so persistently that the Prophet expected Allah would grant neighbors a share in inheritance, highlighting that neighborly duty in Islam is not merely polite behavior but a religious obligation with spiritual consequences.

Who Is a Neighbor?

The scholars discussed the extent of the neighborhood. Some held it is forty houses in every direction (based on a narration in Musnad Ahmad, though its chain is debated). Others defined it more broadly as anyone whose life is affected by your proximity. Islam distinguishes three levels of neighbors: the Muslim relative (who has three rights: kinship, Islam, and neighborhood), the Muslim non-relative (who has two rights: Islam and neighborhood), and the non-Muslim neighbor (who has the right of neighborhood). The Quran commands: "Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the distant neighbor" (Quran 4:36).

Obligations Toward Neighbors

The Prophet outlined specific obligations. Do not harm your neighbor: "By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was asked: "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "The one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Share food with them: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him be good to his neighbor" (Sahih Muslim). The Prophet also said: "O Abu Dharr, when you cook broth, make more of it and share with your neighbors" (Sahih Muslim). Do not eat your fill while your neighbor goes hungry. Do not build to block their air or light without permission.

Kindness Across Faith Lines

The duty of neighborly kindness extends to non-Muslim neighbors. Abdullah ibn Amr once slaughtered a sheep and repeatedly asked his servant: "Have you given some to our Jewish neighbor?" He said: "The Messenger of Allah said: Jibril kept advising me about the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir" (Sunan Abu Dawud). Umar ibn al-Khattab allocated funds from the state treasury for the care of elderly non-Muslim citizens, saying: "We took the jizyah from them in their youth, and now we neglect them in their old age?" This principle of universal neighborly duty has been central to Islamic social ethics throughout history.

The Modern Application

In contemporary life, neighborly rights include: greeting them, visiting them when sick, attending their funerals, congratulating them on joyous occasions, consoling them in grief, not spying on them, not raising your building to block their view without consent, not annoying them with cooking smells, not letting your children bother their children, and assisting them when in need. The Prophet said: "The best of companions in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his companion, and the best of neighbors in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his neighbor" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi). The Muslim neighborhood, built on these principles, creates a strong social fabric of mutual care, trust, and solidarity.