The importance of understanding the rights of neighbors in Islam

Islam is a perfect and comprehensive religion, not only regulating human relations with God, but also relations between humans. One form of Islamic attention to social life is to emphasize the importance of maintaining neighboring rights. Allah SWT ordered a Muslim to treat his neighbors well. In the Koran, Allah said:

And worship God, and not partnering with Him, and with the two loving love, and people who are close to closeness, southern neighbors, and juni friends, and Putra Street

It means: “Worship God and don’t hang out with Him. (Q.S. A-Nisa; 36)

This verse places neighbors in a row of parties that must be treated with ihsan (goodness). Even God mentioned two types of neighbors: close (nasab or place) and far away. This shows the extent of social care coverage in Islam. Rasulullah SAW emphasized the rights of neighbors in many of his words. One of the very famous hadiths is:

And God does not believe, and God does not believe, and God does not believe. “It is said: who is the Prophet? He said:” People who do not believe in their environment

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It means: “Because God does not believe, for the sake of Allah does not believe, by God does not believe!” It was said to the Prophet, “Who does not believe, O God’s messenger?” The Prophet said, “The neighbor did not feel safe from the disturbance.” (HR Al-Bukhari No. 6016)

In another hadith, the Prophet said:

Anyone who believes in God and the last day, let him be good for his neighbors

It means: “Anyone who believes in God and the hereafter, then he must do good to his neighbors.” (HR Bukhari no. 4,787 and Muslim no. 69)

Doing good to neighbors including cases that began to disappear/faded among Muslims. In fact we encounter in some cities, one does not know his neighbors at all. Each is busy with his own business. Even though it shouldn’t be the case. The Messenger of Allah suggested that fellow neighbors must know each other, because to neighbors there are rights that must be fulfilled. The scholars explain that neighbors’ rights include:

1. Not hurting, either physically, orally, or actions.
2. Helps if in difficulties, such as giving food or financial assistance.
3. Keep his secrets and honor.
4. Visiting if you are sick, and come to empathize when you get a disaster.

Imam al-Ghazali Di Ihya Ulumuddin Mention that neighbors have three levels: First, he becomes a neighbor, a Muslim, and at the same time a relative, then there are three rights. Second, he became a neighbor, and a Muslim, there are two rights. Third, he becomes a neighbor but non-Muslim, so there is one right, namely the right as a neighbor.

Even inside Fathul BariImam Ibn Hajar explained that “disturbances to neighbors” could cause someone to be dumped from God’s grace if he did not immediately repent. In everyday life, maintaining the rights of neighbors can be realized through simple things. Starting from greeting kindly every day, not playing hard music at night, distributing food while cooking more, offering help when neighbors are sick or grieving, and avoid conflict and ghibah between residents.

If there is a misunderstanding, Islam recommends that to immediately apologize and make peace, as taught by the Messenger of Allah that a Muslim should not silence his brother for more than three days. Maintaining neighboring rights is part of the perfection of faith. Neighbors are the people who are physically closest to our daily lives. A good relationship with neighbors is a reflection of the correct personality and Islamic. Rasulullah SAW has firmly reminded that disturbance to neighbors is a sign of weak faith, and can even cause someone to get out of the goodness of Islam. So, let’s make our home and environment as a field of goodness. Do not let neighbors become a bad witness to our morals. Be a Muslim who is missed by his neighbors because of the noble morals and high concern

Also read: neighboring well, a sign of the perfection of faith

Author: Muttaqin Hidayahtullah, Alumni of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor Ponorogo

Editor: Muh. Sutan