TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi


9. RIGHTS OF NEIGHBOURS

7 TYPES OF PEOPLE UPON WHOM THERE IS NO MERCY.

Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi (R.A) has reported from Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that Allah will not look with mercy towards seven types of people, and He will enter them into Jahannam. These are:

  1. Both parties involved in an act of sodomy.
  2. Those who masturbate.
  3. Those who sodomise animals.
  4. Those who engage in anal sex.
  5. Those who marry a mother and a daughter.
  6. Those who commit adultery with their neighbour´s wives.
  7. Those who harass and cause inconvenience to their neighbours.

All these categories of people are deserving of Allah´s curse till they repent sincerely.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned that no person can be a perfect Mu´min till people are safe from his hands and tongue. Similarly no person can be a perfect Mu´min till his neighbour´s safe from his evil.

9 RIGHTS OF NEIGHBOUR

A person once asked Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), "What are the rights of a neighbour?" The reply was:

  1. He should be granted a loan upon request.
  2. His invitation should be accepted.
  3. He should be visited when ill.
  4. He should be assisted upon request.
  5. He should be consoled when he suffers any loss.
  6. He should be congratulated upon a happy occasion.
  7. His funeral should be attended.
  8. His home and family should be cared for in his absence.
  9. A high building should not be constructed without his permission.

5 WORDS OF WISDOM.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) advised Hadhrat Abu Huraira (R.A) thus:

  1. Adopt abstinence and you will be considered as one who worships the most.
  2. Be content and you will be regarded as the most grateful.
  3. Like for others what you like for yourself and you will be a perfect Mu´min.
  4. Treat your neighbours well and you will be a perfect Muslim.
  5. Laugh less because excessive laughter kills the heart.

THREE TYPES OF NEIGHBOURS.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned that there are three kinds of neighbours viz.

  1. the one with three rights,
  2. the one with two rights and
  3. the one with one right.

The first type is that neighbour who is a Muslim, a relative and a neighbour.

The second is he who is a Muslim and neighbour, who is not a relative.

The third type is the non-Muslim, who is only a neighbour.

THREE ADVICES.

Hadhrat Abu Dharr Ghifaari (R.A) says that his beloved friend, Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) gave him three advices. These were:

  1. Obey the leader even though his nose may be cut off (when his command does not contradict the sharia).
  2. Add more water to your gravy so that you could give some to your neighbour.
  3. Perform salaah on it´s due time.

A FEW PEARLS OF WISDOM.

  1. Hadhrat Hassan Basri (R.A) says, "Good behaviour towards neighbours does not only mean that one does not cause any harm to them, it also includes being patient when they harm you."
  2. Hadhrat Amr bin Al Aas (R.A) has mentioned, "Maintaining good family ties does not mean that a person joins ties with those who joins ties with him, and severs ties with those who sever ties with him. This is equity. Proper maintenance of ties means that you join ties with those who sever them and that you behave well with those who oppress and harass you. Similarly, forbearance does not mean that you are forbearing with those who are forbearing towards you and that you behave foolishly with those who behave foolishly towards you. This is also mere equity. True forbearance is when you are patient with the foolishness of fools and the harassment of neighbours. Not harassing them is best."

THE POSITION OF A NEIGHBOUR.

That neighbour is best, who is trusted by his neighbours in every respect and who never says anything that has to be retracted if his neighbour has to appear, that will be a cause of embarrassment if the neighbour has to learn of it.

A good neighbour is also him who the other neighbour trusts so much that he feels assured that any valuable will not be touched in his absence (neither will the neighbour himself touch it, nor will he allow others to do so). It becomes then easy for the neighbour to leave something in his custody.

THREE PRAISEWORTHY TRAITS DURING THE PERIOD OF IGNORANCE.

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (R.A) says, "Three qualities were practiced during the period of ignorance. Muslims are more worthy of acting on these. These are:

  1. Entertaining guests.
  2. Not divorcing wives who have aged so that they do not experience any difficulties in their old age.
  3. If a person was in debt, all his neighbours would contribute towards paying off his debt. They would also assist him in any other difficulty.

THE POOR NEIGHBOUR WILL CALL THE RICH NEIGHBOUR TO TASK.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned, "On the Day of Judgement a person will grab hold of his neighbour saying, "Oh Allah! You made him rich, while I was poor. There were nights when I slept on an empty stomach, while he would go to bed with a full stomach every night. Ask him why he closed his door on me and why he deprived me of the wealth that You blessed him with."

TEN OPPRESSORS.

Hadhrat Sufyaan Thauri (R.A) says that ten people are regarded as oppressors viz.

  1. The person who prays for himself, but forget his parents and other Mu´mineen.
  2. The person who does not recite at least a hundred verses of the Qur´aan daily.
  3. The person who leaves the Masjid without performing at least two rakaahs of salaah.
  4. The person who passes a graveyard without greeting the deceased or praying for them.
  5. The person who enters a city on a Friday and leaves without performing the Jumu´ah salaah.
  6. That man or woman in whose vicinity a learned person comes and none acquires any religious knowledge from him.
  7. Those two people who love each other for the pleasure of Allah but are unaware of each others names.
  8. That person who is invited by another but does not accept his invitation (when acceptance does not contradict the shari´ah).
  9. That youngster that has no commitments yet does not acquire any religious knowledge or manners.
  10. That person who has eaten to his fill while his neighbour goes hungry.

FOUR WAYS WHEREBY GOOD RELATIONS MAY BE MAINTAINED WITH ONE´S NEIGHBOUR.

Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi (R.A) said perfect relations may be maintained with a neighbour in four ways viz.

  1. To assist the neighbour with whatever means are at one´s disposal.
  2. Never desire that which your neighbour possesses.
  3. Never harm your neighbour in any way.
  4. Exercise patience when your neighbour causes you any difficulty.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Make it incumbent upon yourself because truthfulness is piety and piety leads to Jannah. A person endeavours to be truthful and continues to do so till Allah records him in the list of the truthful. Abstain from lying because it constitutes sin and vice, which leads one to Jahannam. A person continues to lie until he is recorded in the list of liars."