Islam puts a deep emphasis on the neighbor’s rights. We as human beings are social by nature. We interact with different people in our lives, whether it’s someone from our workspace or neighborhood. Therefore, Islam ties these interactions in a beautiful bond and provides us with an ethical system in which we can build our moral considerations as an individual.

The Islamic social approach stands out on top of everything around. At the top of Islamic social rights, comes the right of neighbors. It is the right that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) appoints since the early days. The Prophet (PBUH) said,

“Angel Jibril advised me continuously to take care of the neighbor till I thought that Allah is to make him an inheritor.”

This hadith shows how important neighbors are in Islam. Being a friendly homeowner in the neighborhood doesn’t mean that you’re a good neighbor. It is the duty and good deeds that will reward you both in your physical life and the afterlife. To help your community grow and watch the poor get the same benefits as you are among the top human rights in Islam.

Related: Status of Women in Islam (According to The Quran)

Many Muslims knows to respect and care for their parents and family member. But we mostly don’t realize the duty of our neighbors and end up completely ignoring them. It is also important to note that the rights of a neighbor are not limited to just a Muslim neighbor. If you have a neighbor of another creed and culture, you should respect them with equal rights.

16 Rights of Neighbors in the Quran

Before we begin any good deeds for the community, we first have to understand the rights of our neighbors and fulfill our duty in the best way possible. Here are some of the prominent rights of neighbors in Islam.

• Help your neighbor in the hour of need
• Do not block his air by building a high roof of your home. If you have to do it, then ask for permission
• Don’t harass your neighbor
• Give him relief if he seeks for it
• Lend him a loan if he asks for
• Give them a share of your groceries like fruits, vegetables, or anything for the children
• Visit your neighbor if he is ill
• Hide his sin, if you have known it
• Attend his funeral and take care of the burial arrangements when he passes away
• Grieve in Sympathy
• Congratulate him if he has achieved something
• Always volunteer for the betterment of the community
• Give special gifts at events like Eid or Weddings
• Talk to them politely
• Share a meal with them, when you have cooked something special
• Ensure the safety of your neighbor

“The best of companions with Allah is the one who is best to his companions, and the best of neighbors to Allah is the one who is the best of them to his neighbor”. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Conclusion:

In short, the best among us are those that are good to our neighbor. The rights of neighbors in the Quran are far superior to any other social rights. The best way to gain countless rewards from Allah (SWT) is to start endorsing your neighbors.

A chain of good behavior is always helpful for both parties. If you’re good to someone, they will be surely good to you. If we’re good towards our neighbors, there will be no animosity left on the earth.