How should a person deal with his non-Muslim neighbor?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says: If my neighbor is a disbeliever, how should I deal with him? And is it permissible for me to congratulate him on a newborn, a job, a new residence, or the like?

Answer:
The non-Muslim neighbor has one right: the right of neighborliness. You are to be kind to him and keep harm from him. This is the aspect of neighborliness, even if he is a disbeliever, because a neighbor has three rights: the close Muslim neighbor, who has three rights; the Muslim neighbor, who has two rights; and the non-Muslim neighbor, who has one right, which is the right of neighborliness. This is among the beauties and excellencies of Islam and among the means of calling to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). As for congratulations, congratulating him on something related to his religion or his festivals is not permissible. But if you congratulate him on a worldly matter, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.