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The conduct of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with his neighbors
Introduction:
The life of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is filled with examples of the good treatment of neighbors, and the order to take care of one’s neighbor, protect his honor, to cover his faults, to not look at his womenfolk and to stay away from everything that bothers him. Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, urged kind and considerate treatment towards neighbors and emphasized that they deserve respect and good treatment regardless of their religion, race or color. ‘Aa’ishah (the wife of the Prophet) reported that angel Gabriel, emphasized the importance of good treatment of neighbors, to the extent that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, thought they would be granted inheritance rights.
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best of neighbors in both his actions and statements. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, followed the order of Allah when He placed the right of the neighbor after His own rights, when He Said (what means):
«Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.»
[Quran: 4:36]
As-Si’di (a scholar) said: “The words: “The neighbor who is near of kin” mean that this person (the neighbor who is near of kin) has two rights over you: the right of a neighbor and the right of a relative. One must treat this person well according to what is customary in that society.
The words: “The neighbor who is a stranger” mean that he is not a relative. A neighbor’s right increases the closer his home is to yours.
One must treat him well by giving him gifts, charity, invitations, good words and actions, and not harm him in any way.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had neighbors in Madinah from both the Ansaar (the original residents of Madinah) and Muhaajireen (immigrants from Makkah to Madinah.)
Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said: “From the neighbors of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in Madinah were: Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah, ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Haraam (the father of Jaabir), Abu Ayoob Al-Ansaari, and As’ad ibn Zuraarah.
Ibn Sa’d (a scholar) narrated that Umm Salamah (the wife of the Prophet) said: “The Ansaar used to often give gifts to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah, Sa’d ibn Mu’aath, ‘Umaarah ibn Hazm, and Abu Ayoob, because they were close neighbors of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”
The tribe of Bani An-Najjaar were very proud of this honor of being his neighbors, they mentioned it in their poetry and their young girls would sing about it.
Anas ibn Maalik (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by a place in Madinah, and some young girls were singing, “We are girls from Bani An-Najjaar, what a great neighbor is Muhammad!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allah knows that I love you.”
Aa’ishah praised those neighbors, saying: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had some neighbors from the Ansaar, truly good neighbors, they had some borrowed animals and they would give the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from their milk, so he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would give it to us to drink.”
