GOODNESS TO THE NEIGHBORS - AZEEZAH ADB GHANIY LAWAL

     G O O D N E S S   T O  N E I G H B O R S

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحـمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آلـه وصحبه ومن والاه

It is really shameful to go to sleep with a full stomach while your neighbour is hungry.. It is also shameful to always wear new clothes,, yet be so stingy that you would not even give your neighbour your used clothes to cover his nudity... It is shameful to enjoy all the good things you have – food,, clothes,, perfume,, and much more – while your neighbours long for bones and dry bread.

Qur'an: An-Nisaa (4:36)

۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ۗ.....

TRANSLATION

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him,, and to parents do good,, and to relatives,, orphans,, the needy,, the near neighbor,, the neighbor farther away,, the companion at ur side (your sit-mate in a bus),, the traveler,, and those whom your right hands possess....

O servants of Allah!

Know that the nieghbour’s rights are proven in many Verses of the Qur’an and hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)... It was even said that the angel Jibreel kept emphasising upon Muhammad (SAW),, the importance of the neighbour’s rights until the Prophet (SAW) developed an impression and fear that,, Jibreel was going to bring a quran verse or verses to prescribe a share in the inheritance for the neighbours.. Meaning,, the prophet was full of fear that,, a quran verses could be revealed to state that,, your neighbors should inherit you.

And NO one harms his neighbour DIRECTLY and or INDIRECTLY except an ill-mannered person who is wicked and evil. Yes.. Even by gossiping him or her. Bcos,, the Prophet (SAW) said:

“By Allah, he does not believe.. By Allah, he does not believe.. By Allah, he does not believe ((3X))..” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah! Verily,, he lost and failed... But Who is he

” He said: “it is he whose neighbour does not feel safe from his Bawaa’iq..” They asked: “What is Bawaa’iq ” He said: “His harm or evil.” 

(Agreed upon)

Al-Bukhaari (5185) and Muslim (47) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not annoy his neighbour.” And in another, it was said that "he, who his neighbor isn't free from his harm, will not make jannah"

WHO IS UR NEIGHBOR

The scholars differed concerning the definition of a neighbour.

Some of the scholars were of the view that the definition of neighbours according to Islam is forty houses in each direction.

Others were of the view that it is defined linguistically, and that the neighbour is only the one whose house is next to your own.

It was also suggested that the people of each mosque are neighbours, or that this applies to the people of a quarter (area of a city), or the people of a city… And there were other suggestions.

And it was said that neighbours are those whose houses are next to yours;

or the people of the locality in which you live;

or those whose houses are next to yours or facing yours;

or the people of a dead-end street or cul-de-sac;

or those between whom and you there is clear access;

or those who pray with you in the masjid;

or your tribe;

FINALLY :

It's clear enough what this verses, Hadiths n narration is saying.. Some even have up to the point of waste, while their neighbors are dying of hunger, some prefer to  store what will take them till next year, while their neighbors are yet to even  get what will last them an hour, subhanallah, astaghfirllah

 My dear brothers and sisters, let us desist from such and turn a new leaf, look for that neighbor you know is in need, especially this Ramadan during this pandemic

Ramadan itself is a month where we show love to ourselves, and now there's also a pandemic which is causing a whole lot of hunger in some homes.. 

The little u look and see as nothing count a lot to others, pls let's extend our kind gestures to our needy neighbors no matter how little..

We pray Allah SWT reward our kind gestures as an act of worship and never deny us it's reward.

Subhaanaka Allahumma wa bi hamdik ash-adu an laa ilaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa atuubu ilayk

Hajia Azeezah Lawal AbdGhaniy is a vast Arabic teacher who has taught a well vast number of children in Arabic and Islamic studies.... She is based in Warri Delta State Nigeria