أحمد بن محمد بن خالد البرقي

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘Maintaining good neighborly relations increases one’s life span and the development of the country.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Maintaining good neighborly relations increases the development of the country and one’s life span.’”

“Not to cause suffering to neighbors is not a good neighborly relation, however, to be a good neighbor and to exercise patience in suffering (caused by the neighbors) is a good neighborly relations.”

“Once I went in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and the house was full of people. There were people from Khurasan, from al-Sham and from various horizons and I could not find a place to sit. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) sat in his place and he was leaning against a pillow. He said, ‘O Shi’a (followers) of the family of Muhammad (a.s.) bear in mind that one who is not able to control his soul when angry is not from us, and so also is one who does not better his association with his associates, show proper behavior with those who exercise proper behavior, befriend those who befriend him, provide protection to those who protect him, observe proper table manners with those who share with him the table. O Shi’a (followers) of the family of Muhammad (a.s.) be pious before Allah to the best of your abilities. There are no means and no power without Allah.’”

“Maintaining good neighborly relations increases one’s sustenance.”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Samrah ibn Jundab had a fruit bearing palm tree and his path way was through the inside section of the house of a man from al-Ansar. He would come and enter to go to his palm tree without permission. The man from al-Ansar said to him, ‘O Samrah, you continue to take us off guard in a condition that we do not like you to take us off guard. Please, when you come ask for permission. He said, ‘I do not need permission for the path that is the path to my palm tree.’ He (the Imam) said that the man from al-Ansar went to the Messenger of Allah (sw) complained before him and informed him of the condition. The Messenger of Allah (sw) sent someone to call Samrah, informed him that so and so complains and thinks that you pass by him and his family without permission so you must ask for permission when you want to go to your palm tree.’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, why must I ask permission for the pathway of my palm tree?’ The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, ‘Leave that palm tree in exchange for a palm tree in such and such place.’ He said, ‘No, I do not want to exchange.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Exchange for two.’ He said, ‘No.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) went on up to offering ten palm trees and he refused to accept. He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Exchange it for ten palm trees in so and so place.’ He refused. He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Exchange it for a palm tree in paradise.’ He refused and said, ‘I do not want it.’ The Messenger of Allah (sw) then said, ‘You are a harmful man. Harming and causing to lead to harm is not lawful against a believing man.’ He (the Imam) said that the Messenger of Allah (sw) commanded to uproot that palm tree and threw it to him. The Messenger of Allah (sw) said to him, ‘Go plant it wherever you want.’”

I said to him: May I be sacrificed for you, what is the limit of a neighbor? He said: Forty houses from every side.

I heard Amir al-Mu’minin `Ali b. Abi Talib (as) say: I asked the Messenger of Allah (s) about the characteristics of the believer. So, he (s) lowered his head, then raised it and said: In the believer there are twenty characteristics. Whoever does not have them in him, his faith has not been perfected. O `Ali! Surely, the believers are those who (1) attend prayers, (2) hasten to zakat, (3) go on Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah, (4) fast in the month of Ramadan, (5) feed the needy, (6) feel the heads of orphans, (7) cleanse their nails, (8) cautiously cover their privates, (9) when they speak, they do not lie, (10) when they promise, they do not break it, (11) when they are entrusted, they do not betray, (12) when they speak, they are honest, (13) are monks at night, (14) are lions in the day, (15) fast during the day, (16) stand in prayer during the night, (17) do not harm a neighbour, (18) no neighbour is harmed through him, (19) walk gently on the earth, (20) walk to the houses of widows and follow funeral processions. May Allah make us and you from the Godfearing.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Samrah ibn Jundab had a fruit bearing palm tree in the garden of another man from al-Ansar whose house was at the door of the garden and he (Samrah) would pass by when going to his palm tree without permission. The man from al-Ansar spoke to him and asked him to ask for permission whenever he comes. Samrah refused to do so. When he refused the man from al-Ansar went to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, complained before him and informed him of the condition. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, sent someone to call Samrah, informed him of the complaints of the man from al-Ansar and asked him to ask permission whenever going to his palm tree but he refused. When he refused, he (the Messenger of Allah) bargained with him and offered him a huge price but he still refused. He (the Messenger of Allah) then said, “In exchange for this you can have a fruit bearing palm trees in paradise”, but he refused to accept. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, then asked the man from al-Ansar to go, uproot that palm tree and throw it to him; harming and leading to harm is not lawful.’”