SOCIAL SOCIAL CONCEPT OF CONCEPT OF

“NEIGHBOR” IN “NEIGHBOR” IN ISLAMIC ISLAMIC

TEACHINGSTEACHINGS

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Islamic teachingsIslamic teachings Definition of Neighbors in IslamDefinition of Neighbors in Islam Importance of NeighborsImportance of Neighbors Helping and Sharing with NeighborsHelping and Sharing with Neighbors

SACRED TEXT IN ISLAMSACRED TEXT IN ISLAM

Two main sourcesTwo main sourcesKoranKoran

» God’s wordGod’s word» Verses revealed to prophet Muhammad Verses revealed to prophet Muhammad

(PBUH)(PBUH)Teachings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)Teachings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

» Prophet Muhammad’s explanations of versesProphet Muhammad’s explanations of verses

ISLAM = PEACEISLAM = PEACE

LoveLove PeacePeace ToleranceTolerance

ISLAMISLAM

““Say, we believe in God and that which Say, we believe in God and that which has been revealed to us, and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to other prophets, from their Jesus and to other prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” any of them, and to Him we submit.” (The Family of Ìmrán/Al-Ìmrán 83)(The Family of Ìmrán/Al-Ìmrán 83)

MEANING OF LIFE MEANING OF LIFE ACCORDING TO ISLAMACCORDING TO ISLAM

We stay in this life for a very short time We stay in this life for a very short time After this world we will have an eternal life After this world we will have an eternal life ““The highest aim of creation and its most The highest aim of creation and its most

important result is belief in God” – Said important result is belief in God” – Said Nursi Nursi

““The most radiant happiness and sweetest The most radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for human beings is the love of bounty for human beings is the love of God” – Said Nursi God” – Said Nursi

ULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFEULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFE

There is nothing more enjoyable for us There is nothing more enjoyable for us than getting close to Godthan getting close to God

““To those who do right is a fine To those who do right is a fine reward, neither dust nor shame shall reward, neither dust nor shame shall cover their faces. Those are the cover their faces. Those are the companions of paradise, in it they shall companions of paradise, in it they shall live for forever” (Jonah/Yunus 26)live for forever” (Jonah/Yunus 26)

RIGHTS OF OTHERSRIGHTS OF OTHERS According to Islamic teachings, God can forgive According to Islamic teachings, God can forgive

all sins except the ones which are related to the all sins except the ones which are related to the rights of others.rights of others.

The rights of neighbors over one another. The rights of neighbors over one another. (Nisa/Women 4 – 36) “Serve Allah, and join not (Nisa/Women 4 – 36) “Serve Allah, and join not

any partners with Him; and do good- to any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way strangers, the companion by your side, the way farer (you meet), and what your right hands farer (you meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loves not the arrogant, the possess: For Allah loves not the arrogant, the vainglorious” vainglorious”

NEIGHBOR; “JAR”NEIGHBOR; “JAR”

In Arabic “Jar”In Arabic “Jar”believers and unbelievers, believers and unbelievers, religious and irreligious, religious and irreligious, foreigners and fellow-countrymen, foreigners and fellow-countrymen, relatives and strangers, relatives and strangers, those whose house is nearer to yours and those whose house is nearer to yours and

those who are further away those who are further away

EXTENT OF THE EXTENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODNEIGHBORHOOD

Al-Uza’I and Ibn Shihab (also Ibn Hajar, Al-Uza’I and Ibn Shihab (also Ibn Hajar, (Buhari)) said: “Forty houses in each (Buhari)) said: “Forty houses in each direction, (right, left, front and back)”direction, (right, left, front and back)”

Ali ibn Talib said: “Whoever hears the call Ali ibn Talib said: “Whoever hears the call (for prayer) is a neighbor”(for prayer) is a neighbor”

Some scholars said: “Whoever lives with a Some scholars said: “Whoever lives with a man in a locality or a city is a neighbor” man in a locality or a city is a neighbor” (The Confederates/Al-Ahzáb 33:60) (The Confederates/Al-Ahzáb 33:60)

CLOSEST NEIGHBORCLOSEST NEIGHBOR

The closest neighbor is one’s spouseThe closest neighbor is one’s spouse Narrated from Aise (RA), She asked: Narrated from Aise (RA), She asked:

“O messenger of God! I have two “O messenger of God! I have two neighbors, to which one of them neighbors, to which one of them should I give a gift? Prophet should I give a gift? Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said; “To the Muhammad (PBUH) said; “To the one whose door is nearest to yours.” one whose door is nearest to yours.” (Bukhari 6020) (Bukhari 6020)

IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORSNEIGHBORS

Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA), Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA), Prophet Muhammad said; “Whoever Prophet Muhammad said; “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor.” should not harm his neighbor.”

Narrated from Anas (RA), Prophet Narrated from Anas (RA), Prophet Muhammad said; “By Him in Whose Muhammad said; “By Him in Whose hand is my soul, no man truly believes hand is my soul, no man truly believes until he loves for his neighbor what he until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself.”loves for himself.”

IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORSNEIGHBORS

Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA), Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA), Prophet Muhammad said; “Be God-Prophet Muhammad said; “Be God-fearing: you will be the best in worship fearing: you will be the best in worship among the people. Be content with among the people. Be content with your lot: you will be the most grateful your lot: you will be the most grateful of people. Like for people what you of people. Like for people what you would like for yourself: you will be a would like for yourself: you will be a Believer. Treat your neighbor well: Believer. Treat your neighbor well: you will be a Muslim”you will be a Muslim”

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD IMPORTANCE OF GOOD RELATIONSRELATIONS

Narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr, the messenger Narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr, the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said; of Allah (PBUH) said;

““The best of friends, in Allah’s sight, is the one who The best of friends, in Allah’s sight, is the one who is best to his friend; and the best of neighbors, in is best to his friend; and the best of neighbors, in Allah’s sight, is the one who is best to his Allah’s sight, is the one who is best to his neighbor.” neighbor.”

Narrated from the wife of prophet Muhammad Narrated from the wife of prophet Muhammad (SAV), Aise (RA), He (PBUH) said; (SAV), Aise (RA), He (PBUH) said;

““Gabriel kept recommending me to treat my Gabriel kept recommending me to treat my neighbor well until I thought that he would tell me neighbor well until I thought that he would tell me to make him one of my heirs” to make him one of my heirs”

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ANY GOOD DEEDSANY GOOD DEEDS

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that All good deeds are importantAll good deeds are important Don’t underestimate any of them Don’t underestimate any of them Even smiling is not something unimportant. Even smiling is not something unimportant.

(Tirmizi, Et'ime 30, (1834))(Tirmizi, Et'ime 30, (1834))

HELPING AND SHARING HELPING AND SHARING WITH THE NEIGHBORSWITH THE NEIGHBORS

Narrated from Abu Dharr (RA) Narrated from Abu Dharr (RA) Prophet Muhammad stated that: Prophet Muhammad stated that: “Whenever you cook some stew, add “Whenever you cook some stew, add extra water to it, then look to some extra water to it, then look to some household in your neighborhood household in your neighborhood and give it to them in kindness.” and give it to them in kindness.” (Muslim 2625)(Muslim 2625)

JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORS

When the Prophet PBUH) was dying and When the Prophet PBUH) was dying and about to pass on to the next world, he about to pass on to the next world, he stated: stated:

"I place in your trust the People of the "I place in your trust the People of the Book, the Christians and Jews." Book, the Christians and Jews."

When 'Umar (RA) was in the throes of When 'Umar (RA) was in the throes of death due to a dagger wound, he warned:death due to a dagger wound, he warned:

"I place the minorities among us in your "I place the minorities among us in your trust. Fear God regarding them and treat trust. Fear God regarding them and treat them justly."them justly."

SUMMARYSUMMARY

A healthy society can be established A healthy society can be established only through healthy neighborhoods only through healthy neighborhoods

EducationEducation Schools and universities Schools and universities Seminars and conferencesSeminars and conferences

� �ال إ �ا �ن ل م� ل ع� � ال �ك� ان ح� ب س��نت� أ �ك� �ن إ �ا �ن �مت ع�ل م�ا

ح�ك�يم� ال �يم� ع�ل الGlory to You, of knowledge We have Glory to You, of knowledge We have none, save what You have taught us: none, save what You have taught us: In truth it is You Who are perfect in In truth it is You Who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom. knowledge and wisdom.

(The Cow/Al-Baqarah 32)(The Cow/Al-Baqarah 32)