The Rights of the Neighbor in Islamic Shari`ah Part 8

The righteous neighbor is among the reasons of the person's happiness:

Therefore, the righteous neighbor is among the reasons of the person's happiness; as this neighbor safeguards his brother's inviolable matters, fulfills his right and fears Allah regarding him.

In this regard, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Three matters bring forth happiness to a person; the righteous neighbor, the comfortable mount, and the large house." [29]

Among the sayings of `Ali Ibn Abu Taalib is his saying: "Chose the neighbor before the house and the companion before the road." [30]

How beautiful is the saying of the poet!

Look for neighbors that you neighbor them as the house will not be suitable for dwelling until the neighbor will be righteous.

Another poet said:

They blame me for selling my house cheap, and they do not know that there is a neighbor disturbs me.

So, I said to them to stop blaming as the houses become expensive and cheap according to their neighbors. [31]

Some people said: "The unhappy life is in three matters: the evil neighbor, the undutiful son to his parents, and the ill-natured woman." [32] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to say in his supplication: "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the evil neighbor who lives with me in the residence place all the time, as the nomadic neighbor changes his place continuously." He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also ordered us to seek refuge with Allah from the evil of this neighbor by saying: "Seek refuge with Allah from the evil of the neighbor who lives with you in one place all of the time, since if the traveling neighbor wants to change his place, he will move to another place." [34]