Chapter 10 - On The Rights of the Neighbors

“God's Prophet made an appointment with someone next to a boulder, and told him he would stay there until he returned. The sun was shining on the Prophet. His companions asked him why he did not move to where there was shade. He replied: “I made an appointment with him here. If he does not come, he will remain in the Heat in the Hereafter.”

“Do you know what the rights of the neighbors are? Beware, you only know a little about the rights of the neighbors. One whose neighbor is not secure from him, has not believed in God and the Hereafter. He should give him a loan whenever he requests one. He should congratulate him whenever something good happens to him, and he should condole him whenever something bad happens to him. He should not build his house so high that his neighbor's house cannot get any fresh air, unless he gets permission. He should give him fruit whenever he needs any. If he does not give it in public, he should send it in private. He should not give his kids any toys with which they might bother the neighbor.” Then the Prophet added: “Neighbors are divided into three groups. Some have three rights: Islam, being neighbors and being relatives. Some have two rights: Islam, and being neighbors. But some have only one right. They are infidels who only have the right of being neighbors.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Whoever sleeps with a full stomach but his neighbors are hungry is not a believer.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “God will deprive whoever hurts his neighbors of the scent of Heaven. He will be placed in Hell. What a bad place it is. Whoever violates the rights of his neighbors does not belong to our nation.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Gabriel advised me on the rights of neighbors so much that I thought soon they would be declared to be partners in my inheritance.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “In the Hereafter God will forgive the flaws of whoever forgives the flaws of his neighbors. Whoever is careful about what he eats and guards his chastity will be like a beautiful angel in the Hereafter. A house will be built in Heaven for whoever frees a believing slave.”

“Being good with neighbors is a cause of extended life and expansion of buildings.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:; “Not bothering your neighbors is not being good to your neighbors. Rather being patient with the neighbors bothering you is being a good neighbor.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “A believer is one whose neighbors are secure from his oppression and maltreatment.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “A man complained to God's Prophet (a.s) about his neighbor. The Prophet (a.s) turned his face away. The man did it again but the Prophet paid no attention to him. He complained for the third time. This time the Prophet looked at Imam Ali (a.s), Salman and Meghdad and said: “Go and announce that God and His angels damn whoever bothers his neighbors.”

In the Battle of Tabuk God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Whoever has bothered his neighbors should not accompany us.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Whoever believes in God and the Hereafter will not hurt his neighbors.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Whoever dies and has three neighbors who are all pleased with him will be forgiven.”

“I seek refuge in God from a bad neighbor who watches your house carefully. He will be upset if something good happens to you, and will be pleased if something bad happens to you.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The prayer of those who pray to get rid of their neighbors shall not be responded to, since God has established a way to escape from this situation. He can sell his house and move to another location.”

The Prophet (a.s) was told: “There is a woman who fasts in the daytime and prays at night and always gives charity, but verbally bothers her neighbor.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “Her deeds are of no use. She shall go to Hell.” They said: “There is another woman who fasts during the Holy month of Ramazan - month of fasting- and does her obligatory prayers but does not disturb her neighbor.” The Prophet (a.s)said: “She shall go to Heaven.”

God's Prophet (a.s) ordered Imam Ali (a.s), Salman and Meghdad to each go to one region and announce that the neighbors' rights span out to forty houses away.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There have been, and there will be no Prophets or believers without a neighbor who bothers them.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are three problems which believers always face, even sometimes all at once. Either a person with whom he lives in the same house will close the door and not let him in, or there is a neighbor who will bother him, or someone will bother him on his way to work. Even if a believer lives on top of a mountain, God will appoint a Satan to disturb him. God will designate a companion for him by using his faith so that he does not fear anyone.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) quoted God's Prophet (a.s): “The one whose neighbors are not secure from his harm is not a believer.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God's Prophet (a.s) ordered Imam Ali (a.s), Salman and Abazar to loudly announce: “Whoever whose neighbors are not secure from his harm is not a believer.” They announced that three times. He then pointed with his hand to stress that neighbors include forty houses on the right, on the left, in front and in the back.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “When Benjamin left Jacob, Jacob said: “O' God! Will you not have Mercy on me? You took my sight, and my son.” The Almighty God revealed: “I would have even resurrected them to be at your side if they had died. But remember the sheep you slaughtered, cooked and ate while your neighbor was fasting, and you did not give him any.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Then Jacob ordered it to be announced within a distance of six kilometers that whoever wants to eat can come to dine at Jacob's house every night.”