Misbehavior Towards Neighbors

Written by: Fazeelat-us-Sheikh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hamad (Hafidhahullah)

مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يُؤْذِي جَارَهُ

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Nikah: 5185)

Key Insights:

Islam emphasizes living together in harmony and fostering strong social relationships. Unfortunately, with the advent of isolated living in luxurious homes and bungalows, we have distanced ourselves from the joys and sorrows of our neighbors. Not only do we remain unaware of their struggles, but some even go so far as to harm them. Such behavior is considered a grave sin in Islam, and severe warnings have been mentioned regarding it.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“By Allah! He is not a believer, he is not a believer, he is not a believer.”
The companions asked, “Who, O Messenger of Allah?”
He (ﷺ) replied: “The one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab: 6016)

Common Forms of Misbehavior Towards Neighbors:

Here are some prevalent examples of mistreating neighbors:

Disposing of trash: Cleaning one’s home and throwing garbage at the neighbor’s doorstep.
Invasion of privacy: Opening windows towards the neighbor’s property, causing a breach of their privacy.
Blocking sunlight and air: Raising shared walls so high that the neighbor is deprived of sunlight, fresh air, or natural light.
Unjust restrictions: Preventing a neighbor from using a shared wall for their genuine needs, such as placing wooden beams.
Noise disturbances: Creating excessive noise within one’s home, causing distress to neighbors.

Seriousness of Neighbor Harassment:

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly warned about the gravity of harming one’s neighbor:

“The person whose harm makes his neighbor insecure will not enter Paradise.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman: 73)

Practical Takeaways:

✔ Respect the rights of neighbors and maintain a harmonious relationship with them.
✔ Avoid causing any harm, inconvenience, or disturbance.
✔ Strive to be considerate and helpful, ensuring peace and goodwill in the community.

May Allah guide us to uphold the rights of our neighbors and protect us from becoming a source of harm for them.
 
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