SOCIAL CONCEPT OF “NEIGHBOR” IN ISLAMIC TEACHINGS

SOCIAL CONCEPT OF “NEIGHBOR” IN ISLAMIC TEACHINGS

OVERVIEW • Islamic teachings • Definition of Neighbors in Islam • Importance of Neighbors • Helping and Sharing with Neighbors

SACRED TEXT IN ISLAM • Two main sources • Koran • God’s word • Verses revealed to prophet Muhammad (PBUH) • Teachings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) • Prophet Muhammad’s explanations of verses

ISLAM = PEACE • Love • Peace • Tolerance

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

MEANING OF LIFE ACCORDING TO ISLAM • We stay in this life for a very short time • After this world we will have an eternal life • “The highest aim of creation and its most important result is belief in God” – Said Nursi • “The most radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for human beings is the love of God” – Said Nursi

ULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFE • There is nothing more enjoyable for us than getting close to God • “To those who do right is a fine reward, neither dust nor shame shall cover their faces. Those are the companions of paradise, in it they shall live for forever” (Jonah/Yunus 26)

RIGHTS OF OTHERS • According to Islamic teachings, God can forgive all sins except the ones which are related to the rights of others. • The rights of neighbors over one another. • (Nisa/Women 4 – 36) “Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way farer (you meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loves not the arrogant, the vainglorious”

NEIGHBOR; “JAR” • In Arabic “Jar” • believers and unbelievers, • religious and irreligious, • foreigners and fellow-countrymen, • relatives and strangers, • those whose house is nearer to yours and those who are further away

EXTENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD • Al-Uza’I and Ibn Shihab (also Ibn Hajar, (Buhari)) said: “Forty houses in each direction, (right, left, front and back)” • Ali ibn Talib said: “Whoever hears the call (for prayer) is a neighbor” • Some scholars said: “Whoever lives with a man in a locality or a city is a neighbor” (The Confederates/Al-Ahzáb 33:60)

CLOSEST NEIGHBOR • The closest neighbor is one’s spouse • Narrated from Aise (RA), She asked: “O messenger of God! I have two neighbors, to which one of them should I give a gift? Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said; “To the one whose door is nearest to yours.” (Bukhari 6020)

IMPORTANCE OF NEIGHBORS • Narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA), Prophet Muhammad said; “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor.” • Narrated from Anas (RA), Prophet Muhammad said; “By Him in Whose hand is my soul, no man truly believes until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself.”

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

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD RELATIONS • Narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr, the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said; “The best of friends, in Allah’s sight, is the one who is best to his friend; and the best of neighbors, in Allah’s sight, is the one who is best to his neighbor.” • Narrated from the wife of prophet Muhammad (SAV), Aise (RA), He (PBUH) said; “Gabriel kept recommending me to treat my neighbor well until I thought that he would tell me to make him one of my heirs”

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ANY GOOD DEEDS • Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that • All good deeds are important • Don’t underestimate any of them • Even smiling is not something unimportant. (Tirmizi, Et'ime 30, (1834))

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

JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS • When the Prophet PBUH) was dying and about to pass on to the next world, he stated: "I place in your trust the People of the Book, the Christians and Jews." • When 'Umar (RA) was in the throes of death due to a dagger wound, he warned: "I place the minorities among us in your trust. Fear God regarding them and treat them justly."

SUMMARY • A healthy society can be established only through healthy neighborhoods • Education • Schools and universities • Seminars and conferences

سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ Glory to You, of knowledge We have none, save what You have taught us: In truth it is You Who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom. (The Cow/Al-Baqarah 32)

SOCIAL CONCEPT OF “NEIGHBOR” IN ISLAMIC TEACHINGS