In the pursuit of the taqwa agenda, we should also remember our neighbours whose welfare we have not shown interest in the past. Goodness to neighbour in the form of generosity and kindness is an act of worship which is a commandment of Allah as He (SWT) said:
“Worship Allah and worship none with Him and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (whom you meet) and those (slaves/servants) whom your right hand possesses. Verily Allah does not love those who are proud and boastful.” Q4:36
Kindness to neighbours entails sharing in their joy and sadness; sharing your food with them; visiting them when they are sick; etc. It is also important to add that these duties are not in any way reduced due to the fact that your neighbour is not a Muslim. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-Aas narrated that the Apostle of Allah (SAW) slaughtered an ewe and had it cooked. He asked (his household), “did you give a part of it as a present to our jewish neighbour?” He repeated this question three times. Then Abdullah added: I heard the Prophet (SAW) saying: “(Angel) Jibril continued to admonish me to treat the neighbours kindly and politely to the extent that I thought he will order me to make them my heirs.”
We are particularly encouraged to share with our neighbours the provisions we have made for the Ramadan especially where they lack the wherewithal. We should give our neighbour whatever he needs that is within our capacity as long as it is not harmful to our interests.
An additional requirement on good neighbourliness is be patient if one is harmed by his neighbour. In this regard, Al-Hassan Basri (RA) said: “Being good to one’s neighbour does not stop at abstaining from harming him, but rather to be patient if one is harmed by his neighbour.” In Ramadan, the Muslim is particularly challenged to exhibit the highest level of patience. The Prophet (SAW) was reported to have admonished the Ummah that when you are provoked or hurt in Ramadan, you should simply tell the assailant that: “I am fasting”. This explains that rancour, quarrelling and fighting while observing the fast is not encouraged. Please be guided and take heed.
If, perchance, you are not yet convinced to change your paradigm on how to treat your neighbour then consider this statement of Rasulullah (SAW) when he categorically stated that:
“On the Day of Judgment, a person will grab hold of his neighbour saying; O Allah! You made him rich while I was poor. There were nights when I slept on an empty stomach while he would go to bed with full stomach. Ask him why he closed his door on me and why he deprived me of the wealth that you blessed him with.”
It is reported that “the Prophet (SAW) was naturally the most generous of people and he used to be more generous than ever in the month of Ramadan”. (Sahih Bukhari). Please start your generosity from your family then to the nearest of neighbours and then others.
- Contributed by Ustaz Suleiman Zubair, Abuja, Nigeria.
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