The Rights of the Neighbour

In leading his life, a believer should brave all hardships with self-confidence. In that way he will keep on progressing.

According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “By God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer.” People asked, “O Prophet of God, who is not believer?” The Prophet replied, “One from whom his neighbour is not safe.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6016)

A human being is a social animal. Wherever he lives, he lives in society. Even if he travels, he has some co-travellers. All these people are his neighbours.

Now, there are two types of people. One type consists of those who recognizes others’ need and does not do anything which will hurt the feelings of others or anything which may create problems for others. He never does them any harm. This is the person who cares for the rights of neighbour.

The other type of person is one who knows only how to make concessions to himself. He is not interested in making concessions to anyone else. Such a person will be a constant problem for others. He will hurt others’ feelings by his careless talk. He will engage in such activities as will destroy the peace of others. One who engages in such irresponsible activities to achieve his end as disturbs the lives of others, is an evil neighbour for those who are close to him.

Those who are good for their neighbours are good people. And those who are evil for their neighbours are evil people. To do harm to others for one’s own gain is undoubtedly a crime and anyone who does so is a sinner. Those about whom neighbours have a good opinion are good people, and those for whom neighbours have a bad opinion are without doubt bad people.