Abu Dharr (RA) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded me thus: Whenever you prepare a broth, add water to it, and have in your mind the members of the household of your neighbours and then give them out of this with courtesy.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊
Exchanging gifts is a very good way to establish good relations among neighbors.
➋
It is better to give something that can be used immediately rather than expensive gifts.
➌
When a special dish is prepared, some portion of it should also be sent to the neighbors.
➍
Even ordinary, simple food can be sent.
➎
If a modest gift is received, it should be accepted and thanks should be expressed.
➏
By adding more water to the meat and sending some curry to the neighbors, one adopts a method that does not require any special extra expense.
Other such things can also be done.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 3362
Shaykh Abdus Salam Bhutvi
Takhrij:
[مسلم البر والصلة 6688]
Benefits:
➊ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that Jibril (alayhis salam) continued to advise me regarding the neighbor so much so that I thought he would make him an heir. [متفق عليه]
➋ This hadith draws attention to the fact that one should not only think of one’s own pleasure, but also consider one’s neighbor. If there is little meat or vegetables and you cannot give some to your neighbor, then increase the broth so that you can give some to your neighbor as well. It is against magnanimity that you eat roasted meat while your neighbor eats without any gravy.
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
«ليس المومن بالذي يشبع وجاره جائع الي جنبه» [البيهمي فى شعب الايمان وحسنه الالباني فى حاشية المشكوة 4991]
“A believer is not one who eats his fill while his neighbor beside him is hungry.”
➌ When giving a gift to a neighbor, one should not think, “Why should I give thin broth or something ordinary as a gift?” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Let not any neighbor consider anything insignificant to give to her neighbor, even if it is only the hoof of a goat.” [صحیح بخاری، هبة /1]
Source: Sharh Bulugh al-Maram min Adillat al-Ahkam, Kitab al-Jami', Page: 93
Shaykh Safi ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri
Takhrij:
«أخرجه مسلم، البر والصلة، باب الوصية بالجار والإحسان إليه، حديث:2625.»©Explanation:
In this hadith, there is a command to show good conduct towards the neighbor, to the extent that if the occasion arises to cook meat, instead of preparing a curry (qorma) or roasted meat, one should add a little more water to make broth (shorba), and send some of it to the neighbor’s house as well.
If the neighbor is poor, then this instruction of yours will be for obligation (wujub), and if he is wealthy, then it will be considered recommended (istihbab).
In another hadith, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Jibril alayhis salam continued to advise me regarding the neighbor to the extent that I thought he would make him an heir.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Adab, Chapter: The Recommendation Regarding the Neighbor… Hadith: 6014, 6015)
Source: Bulugh al-Maram: Commentary by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Page: 1262
Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim bin Basheer
Benefit:
➊ Exchanging gifts is a very good way to establish good relations among neighbors.
➋ Instead of giving expensive gifts, it is better to give something that can be used immediately.
➌ When a special dish is prepared, some portion of it should also be sent to the neighbors.
➍ Even ordinary, simple food can be sent.
➎ If a modest gift is received, it should be accepted and thanks should be expressed.
➏ By adding more water to the meat and sending some curry to the neighbors, one adopts a method that does not require any special extra expense. Other things of this kind can also be included.
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 139