Quranic Verses and Hadith on How to Treat Your Neighbor

As Muslims, it remains an important duty on all our parts to ensure we are vigilant, compassionate, and loving neighbors no matter who may live in our communities. Taking both verses from the Holy Quran as well as hadith from the Holy Prophet, Islamic traditions teach us the beauty in living a life caring for those around us.

Here are 10 verses of the Holy Quran as well as hadith from our holy Prophet Mohammed that remind us that to be true worshippers of God, we must be caring and loving for those around us in this world:

1) Doing good to neighbors who may even be strangers

“Serve God, 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.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Nisaa 4:36]

2) Treating one’s neighbor with respect and duty

When asked what the rights of the neighbor are, the Prophet Mohammed answered: “The least of a neighbor’s rights on him is that if he asks him for a loan he should grant it to him. If he asks for help, he should help him. If he wants to borrow something from him, he should lend it to him. If he needs him to donate something to him, he should do so. If he invites him, he should accept his invitation. If he gets sick, he should go and visit him. If he passes away, he should attend his funeral procession.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, p.79]

3) Loving a neighbor like family

The Prophet Mohammed is reported to have said: “If he [a neighbor] receives some blessings, he should be happy and not envious of him. If a tragedy befalls him, he should grieve for his grief. He should not build a tall building in front of his dwelling which would trouble him due to its overlooking his house and obstructing the passage of breeze. If he is presented with some novelty in his house, then he should present him a part of it if he knows that he does not have something like it, otherwise he should conceal it from him and his family if he desires it for himself.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, p.79]

4) Those who fulfil the rights of neighbors are blessed

After describing the rights of neighbors, the Prophet Mohammed is reported to have stated: “Listen to what I tell you. Only a few people who are blessed by God’s Mercy fulfil the rights of neighbors. God enjoined on me the rights of the neighbor to the extent that I thought He would appoint him as an heir.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, p.79]

5) Respecting neighbors is a duty upon Muslims

The Prophet Mohammed stated: “Whoever believes in God and the Final Day should not trouble his neighbors.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, pp.78-79]

6) Treating your neighbor like your mother

In another hadith, the Prophet is reported to have stated: “The reverence of a neighbor incumbent on the neighbor is like the reverence due to one’s mother.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, pp.78-79]

7) Helping out a neighbor in need may end up helping you as well

“Treating one’s neighbors with kindness and being a good neighbor will result in an increase in one’s share of daily bread and the development of towns.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, pp.78-79]

8) Not fearing your neighbors

The Prophet is reported to have stated in regards to not fearing one’s neighbors: “The neighbor because of whom one locks the door, out of fear for one’s family and wealth, is not a believer.” [Tafsir-i-Namunah, v.3, pp.380-381]

9) One must not trouble their neighbors

In one narration, someone complained to the Prophet Mohammed about his neighbor. The Prophet reportedly turned his face away from him, and then stated to those around him: “Go and publicly announce that the curse of God and the angels is on one who troubles his neighbor.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, pp.78-79]

10) Believing in the Prophet means believing in helping out your community and neighbors

“One who spends the night with a full stomach while his neighbor is hungry, has not believed in me. One who spends the night clothed, while his neighbor has no clothes, has not believed in me.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.2, pp.78-79]