Allah said,
﴿وَالْجَارِ ذِى الْقُرْبَى وَالْجَارِ
الْجُنُبِ﴾
(the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger) `Ali bin Abi Talhah
said that Ibn `Abbas said that,
﴿وَالْجَارِ ذِى الْقُرْبَى﴾
(the neighbor who is near of kin) means, "The neighbor who is also a relative'',
while,
﴿وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ﴾
(The neighbor who is a stranger) means, "Who is not a relative.'' It was also reported
that `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Maymun bin Mihran, Ad-Dahhak, Zayd bin Aslam, Muqatil bin
Hayyan and Qatadah said similarly. Mujahid was also reported to have said that Allah's
statement,
﴿وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ﴾
(the neighbor who is a stranger) means, "The companion during travel.'' There are
many Hadiths that command kind treatment to the neighbors, and we will mention some
of them here with Allah's help. The First Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah
bin `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«مَازَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ
حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُه»
(Jibril kept reminding of the neighbor's right, until I thought that he was going
to give him a share of the inheritance.) The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith. The
Second Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Messenger
of Allah said,
«مَازَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ
حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُه»
(Jibril kept reminding me of the neighbor's right, until I thought he was going
to appoint a share of the inheritance for him.) Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi recorded
this Hadith, which At-Tirmidhi said was "Hasan Gharib through this route.'' The
Third Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the
Prophet said,
«خَيْرُ الْأَصْحَابِ عِنْدَ اللهِ
خَيْرُهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِ، وَخَيْرُ الْجِيرَانِ عِنْدَ اللهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِجَارِه»
(The best companions according to Allah are those who are the best with their friends,
and the best neighbors according to Allah are the best with their neighbors.) At-Tirmidhi
recorded this Hadith and said, "Hasan Gharib''. The Fourth Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded
that Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad said that the Messenger of Allah asked his Companions,
«مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي الزِّنَا؟»
(What do you say about adultery) They said, "It is prohibited, for Allah and His
Messenger have prohibited it. So it is forbidden until the Day of Resurrection.''
The Messenger of Allah said,
«لَأَنْ يَزْنِيَ الرَّجُلُ بِعَشْرِ
نِسْوَةٍ، أَيْسَرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ بِامْرَأَةِ جَارِه»
(For a man to commit adultery with his neighbor's wife is worse than if he commits
adultery with ten women.) He then said,
«مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي السَّرِقَةِ؟»
(What do you say about theft) They said, "It is prohibited, for Allah and His Messenger
prohibited it.'' He said,
«لَأَنْ يَسْرِقَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ عَشْرَةِ
أَبْيَاتٍ، أَيْسَرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْرِقَ مِنْ جَارِه»
(If a man steals from his neighbor, it is worse for him than stealing from ten homes.)
Only Ahmad recorded this Hadith. A similar Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs,
Ibn Mas`ud said, "I asked, `O Allah's Messenger! What is the greatest sin' He said,
«أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ
خَلَقَك»
(To make a rival for Allah while He Alone created you.) I said, `Then' He said,
«أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ
أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَك»
(To kill your offspring for fear that he might share your food with you.) I said,
`Then' He said,
«أَنْ تُزَانِيَ حَلِيلَةَ جَارِك»
(To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife.)'' The Fifth Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded
that `A'ishah asked the Messenger of Allah, "I have two neighbors, so whom among
them should I give my gift'' He said,
«إِلى أَقْرَبِهِمَا مِنْكِ بَابًا»
(The neighbor whose door is the closest to you.) Al-Bukhari narrated this Hadith
We will elaborate on this subject in the Tafsir of Surah Bara'h, Allah willing and
upon Him we depend.