In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب حق الجار والوصية بِهِ
Chapter on the rights of neighbors and instruction regarding it.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/116
Allah Almighty said:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
Worship Allah alone and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, close friends, needy travellers, and those bondspeople in your possession. Surely, Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.
Surat al-Nisa’ 4:36
Imam al-Qurtubi commented on this verse:
وَالْجارِ الْجُنُبِ اليهودي والنصراني قُلْتُ وَعَلَى هَذَا فَالْوَصَاةُ بِالْجَارِ مَأْمُورٌ بِهَا مَنْدُوبٌ إِلَيْهَا مُسْلِمًا كَانَ أَوْ كَافِرًا وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ
‘The distant neighbor’ are the Jews and Christians. I say based upon this that the instruction regarding the neighbor is commanded by way of recommendation whether Muslim or unbeliever, and this is correct.
Source: Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī 4:36
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَا زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَيُوَرِّثَنَّهُ
Gabriel continued to instruct me to treat neighbors well until I thought he would make them my heirs.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6014, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا طَبَخْتَ مَرَقًا فَأَكْثِرْ مَاءَهُ ثُمَّ انْظُرْ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنْ جِيرَانِكَ فَأَصِبْهُمْ مِنْهَا بِمَعْرُوفٍ
O Abu Dharr, when you cook a stew, put more water in the broth and take care of your neighbors.
In another narration, the Prophet said:
فَأَصِبْهُمْ مِنْهَا بِمَعْرُوفٍ
Pour some of it for them courteously.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2625, Grade: Sahih
Abu Shurayh reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ
By Allah, he does not have faith! By Allah, he does not have faith! By Allah, he does not have faith!
It was said, “Who is it, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said:
الَّذِي لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَايِقَهُ
He whose neighbor is not safe from his harm.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6016, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَائِقَهُ
He will not enter Paradise whose neighbor is not secure from his evil.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 46, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
يَا نِسَاءَ الْمُسْلِمَاتِ لَا تَحْقِرَنَّ جَارَةٌ لِجَارَتِهَا وَلَوْ فِرْسِنَ شَاةٍ
O Muslim women, do not belittle any gift for your neighbor, even the hoof of a sheep.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6017, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ جَارَهُ
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor.
Source: Sahih Muslim 47, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet said:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يُؤْذِ جَارَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not harm his neighbor. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or remain silent.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6136, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
خَيْرُ الأَصْحَابِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَخَيْرُ الْجِيرَانِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِجَارِهِ
The best companion to Allah is the best to his companions, and the best neighbor to Allah is the best to his neighbors.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1944, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
