My neighbor mistreats me and my children, and I am patient and enduring, so what do you advise me to do?
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The questioner : My neighbor mistreats me and my children, and I am patient and enduring, so what do you advise me to do, may you be rewarded?
The Shaykh : In reality, you are not one who needs advice, but rather you are one who is content with your patience regarding your neighbor's harm, for you are rewarded and granted reward for this, and your neighbor is the one who is sinful.
And I advise this neighbor and other neighbors to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to honor their neighbors, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 47a And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6016 And he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1942Sahih (Darussalam).
So neighbors should fear Allah the Exalted in themselves and in their brothers, and not mistreat their neighbors.
The scholars have said: A neighbor may have three rights, or two rights, or one right. If the neighbor is a Muslim and a close relative, he has three rights: the right of neighborliness, the right of Islam, and the right of kinship.
And if the neighbor is a disbeliever and a close relative, he has the right of neighborliness and kinship.
And if the neighbor is a disbeliever and not a close relative, he has the right of neighborliness.
So the important point is that a neighbor has a right, even if he is a disbeliever. So let a person fear Allah in himself, let him honor his neighbors, and let him be good to them to the extent he is able, until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 2625b.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : In reality, you are not one who needs advice, but rather you are one who is content with your patience regarding your neighbor's harm, for you are rewarded and granted reward for this, and your neighbor is the one who is sinful.
And I advise this neighbor and other neighbors to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to honor their neighbors, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم جارهNarrated Abu Shuraih: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was said, "Who is that, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil."
والله لا يؤمن، والله لا يؤمن، والله لا يؤمن، من لا يأمن جاره بوائقهJibril – may the Salawat of Allah be upon him – continued to recommend me about (treating) the neighbors so (kindly and politely), that I thought he would order me to make them heirs.
ما زال جبريل يوصيني بالجار حتى ظننت أنه سيورثهSo neighbors should fear Allah the Exalted in themselves and in their brothers, and not mistreat their neighbors.
The scholars have said: A neighbor may have three rights, or two rights, or one right. If the neighbor is a Muslim and a close relative, he has three rights: the right of neighborliness, the right of Islam, and the right of kinship.
And if the neighbor is a disbeliever and a close relative, he has the right of neighborliness and kinship.
And if the neighbor is a disbeliever and not a close relative, he has the right of neighborliness.
So the important point is that a neighbor has a right, even if he is a disbeliever. So let a person fear Allah in himself, let him honor his neighbors, and let him be good to them to the extent he is able, until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
when you prepare the broth, add water to that and give that (as a present) to your neighbour.
إذا طبخت مرقة فأكثر ماءها وتعاهد جيرانكThe questioner : May Allah bless you.