A Glimpse into the Life of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

The Treatment of Neighbours 

He always treated his neighbours with extreme kindness and consideration. He used to say that the angel Gabriel had emphasized consideration towards one’s neighbours so often that he sometimes began to think that a neighbour would perhaps be included among the prescribed heirs. Abu Dharr^ra relates that the Holy Prophet^sa said to him: “Abu Dharr^ra, while broth is being cooked for your family, add a little more water to it so that your neighbour might also share in it.” This does not mean that the neighbour should not be invited to share in other things but, as the Arabs were mostly a migratory people and their favourite dish was broth, the Holy Prophet^sa referred to this dish as a typical one and taught that one should not think so much of the taste of the food as of the obligation to share it with one’s neighbour. Abu Huraira^ra relates: “On one occasion the Holy Prophet^sa exclaimed: ‘I call God to witness that he is not a believer! I call God to witness that he is not a believer! I call God to witness that he is not a believer!’ The Companions inquired: ‘Who is not a believer, O Messenger of Allah^sa?’ and he replied: ‘He whose neighbour is not secure against injury and ill-treatment at his hands.’ On one occasion when he was addressing women, he said: ‘If anybody finds only the foot of a goat to cook, that person should share it with his or her neighbour.’ He asked people not to object to their neighbours driving pegs into their walls or putting them to any other use which occasioned no injury.” Abu Huraira^ra relates: “The Prophet^sa said: ‘He who believes in God and in the Day of Judgement should occasion no inconvenience to his neighbour: he who believes in God and in the Day of Judgement should occasion no inconvenience to his guest, and he who believes in God and in the Day of Judgement should utter only words of virtue or should keep quiet’ “ (Muslim).