What are the manners of neighborhood? What does quran say about neighbours? What does prophet muhammad say about neighbours?
“My love for those who do not cut off their relations with relatives and friends and those who visit each other is justified.” (Ibn Hanbal, V, 229)
Going to see someone, to ask how they are, to take their heart, is a necessity of being a Muslim and of Islamic brotherhood. Allah Almighty declared all Muslims as brothers and ordered them to love and respect each other and to help each other. One of the most important reasons that helps to establish love among people is to visit each other. In this respect, Islam has given great importance to visitation.
Visiting neighbors can be done on various occasions such as illness, holiday, birth, death. There are also visits made out of courtesy without any reason. Muslims find the opportunity to help each other by learning about each other’s troubles, problems and needs through visits.
“He who fills his stomach while his neighbor is hungry is not a true believer.” (Hakim, II, 15)
At the same time, they develop the feeling that they are not alone in the society, and they look to the future with hope and confidence. Their siblings, whom they see around them in moments of joy and sadness, become a source of peace for them. For this reason, there are many benefits to visit the neighbors and acquaintances. Based on such benefits, the Messenger of Allah used to constantly visit his Companions. Qays bin Sa’d -May Allah be well-pleased with- describes one of his visits as follows:
“The Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-came to visit us in our house, and said:
“Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!” My father returned the greeting in a lower tone. I said:
“Do you not grant permission to the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-to enter?” My father said:
“Leave him, he will give us many greetings.” The Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- then said:
“Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!” My father again responded in a lower tone. The Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-again said:
“Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!” So the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-went away.
My father went after him and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! I heard your greetings and responded in a lower tone so that you might give us many greetings.” The Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-returned with him. My father then offered to prepare bath-water for him, and the Prophet took a bath. My father then gave him a long wrapper dyed with saffron or wars and the Prophet wrapped himself in it.
The Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-then raised his hands and said:
“O Allah, bestow Your blessings and mercy on the family of Sa’d ibn Ubadah!” The Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- then shared their meals.
When the Prophet intended to return, my father brought near him an ass which was covered with a blanket. The Messenger of Allah mounted it.
My father told me:
“O Qays, accompany the Messenger of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah said to me:
“Ride.” But I refused. He again said:
“Either ride or go back your home (do not get tired).” I said:
“So I went back.” (Abu Dawud, Adab, 127-128)
In another hadith, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah visited a family of Ansar, ate food in their house, performed prayers and prayed Allah for them. (al-Bukhari, Adab, 65)
The Messenger of Allah used to order his ummah to visit their sick and brothers and sisters in religion. He said in a hadith:
“Whoever visits a sick person or a Muslim brother for the sake of Allah, a caller calls out to him: “What a beautiful and pleasant deed you have done. By doing this, the reward of your walk was also good, and you prepared a place for yourself in heaven!” (al-Tirmidhi, Birr, 64)
Visits should be made only for the sake of Allah, not for any benefit. Allah Almighty has stated that He loves those who visit with sincere intentions. The following is stated in a sacred hadith:
“My love has become a right for those who love each other for My sake, give a lot in charity for My sake, those who are sincere in loving each other, those who do not break their relations with relatives and friends, and those who visit each other.” (Ibn Hanbal, V, 229)
Regarding the visit of the sick, one should make no discrimination between Muslims and non-Muslims, acquaintances, close neighbors and distant neighbors. As a matter of fact, the Messenger of Allah visited a Jewish child who was sick and it was an occasion for the sick child to become a Muslim. (al-Bukhari, Janaiz, 80)
“Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious.” (al-Nisa, 4: 36)