Also, he has a third question, saying that he has neighbors who live with him, and there is no cause between him and them that would lead to a dispute, even a minor one, and he has not disputed with them.
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The questioner : Also, he has a third question, saying that he has neighbors who live with him, and there is no cause between him and them that would lead to a dispute, even a minor one, and he has never disputed with them. He visits them, sits with them, and repeats the visit many times, but these people are not moved to be generous with a visit. So, after all this, should he be polite to them and continue on this path, or should he cut them off, or should he move away from them far away, which is the closest solution for the peace of conscience? Is this Islamic or not?
The Shaykh : It is established in the authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 47a.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And honoring the neighbor is according to what is considered honoring in custom; there is no specific limit in the Shari'ah. So, your honoring of your neighbors by visiting them, giving them gifts, and the like, this is part of the perfection of your faith, even if they do not reciprocate with the same, and even if they reciprocate with harm. The obligatory thing for you is patience and not abandoning their honor, because conditioning your honor of them on their honor of you is not from the type of honor that faith calls for, but this is from the type of reciprocity. If a person honors one who honors him, he is reciprocating, no matter who the one who honored him is; he reciprocated.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, I advise you to stay in your house and not to disturb yourself and your children, and to continue honoring these neighbors, even if they do not honor you, unless you see from them a harm that cannot be endured. In that case, moving away is necessary.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is established in the authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الأخر فليُكرم جارهThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And honoring the neighbor is according to what is considered honoring in custom; there is no specific limit in the Shari'ah. So, your honoring of your neighbors by visiting them, giving them gifts, and the like, this is part of the perfection of your faith, even if they do not reciprocate with the same, and even if they reciprocate with harm. The obligatory thing for you is patience and not abandoning their honor, because conditioning your honor of them on their honor of you is not from the type of honor that faith calls for, but this is from the type of reciprocity. If a person honors one who honors him, he is reciprocating, no matter who the one who honored him is; he reciprocated.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, I advise you to stay in your house and not to disturb yourself and your children, and to continue honoring these neighbors, even if they do not honor you, unless you see from them a harm that cannot be endured. In that case, moving away is necessary.
The questioner : Yes.