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The people closest to your door

Neighbours & guests

A child's first community is not the ummah in general — it is the family next door and the guest at the table. Islam gives the neighbour a right so heavy that the Prophet ﷺ said Jibril kept reminding him about neighbours until he thought they would be given a share of inheritance. He ﷺ said whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must not harm his neighbour and must honour his guest, told Abu Dharr to add water to the broth so the neighbour could have some, and taught that a neighbour's religion does not remove that right. These five lessons turn a big value into things a child can do this week. Every point carries its ayah or hadith reference.

Two small cream clay houses side by side sharing one sage clay doorstep under a gold clay star
A gold clay feather resting beside two cream clay houses on a sage clay base

Lesson 1 · The right · ages 8-11

Jibril kept reminding him ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ said Jibril advised him about neighbours so much that he thought neighbours would be made heirs.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said Jibril kept advising him about treating neighbours kindly until he thought Jibril would order him to make them heirs.

  2. How heavy that is

    Inheritance is only for family, so this shows how close Islam puts the neighbour.

  3. Allah lists them

    Allah commands good treatment of the near neighbour and the distant neighbour in the same ayah as parents and relatives.

  4. Religion does not change it

    Abdullah bin 'Amr had meat sent to his Jewish neighbour and quoted this same hadith for doing it.

  5. It starts with knowing them

    You cannot be good to a neighbour whose name you have never learned.

Surah An-Nisaa · 4:36

۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًۭا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًۭا فَخُورًا

Wa'budul laaha wa laa tushrikoo bihee shai'anw wa bilwaalidaini ihsaananw wa bizil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni waljaari zilqurbaa waljaaril junubi wassaahibi biljambi wabnis sabeeli wa maa malakat aimaanukum; innal laaha laa yuhibbu man kaana mukhtaalan fakhooraa

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:83

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًۭا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًۭا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqa Baneee Israaa'eela laa ta'budoona illal laaha wa bil waalidaini ihsaananw wa zil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni wa qooloo linnaasi husnanw wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuzZakaata summa tawallitum illaa qaleelam minkum wa antum mu'ridoon

“And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.”

Surah An-Nahl · 16:90

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Innal laaha yaamaru bil 'adli wal ihsaani wa eetaaa'i zil qurbaa wa yanhaa 'anil fahshaaa'i wal munkari walbagh-i' ya'izukum la'allakum tazakkkaroon

“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.”

“Gabriel continued to recommend me about treating the neighbors kindly and politely so much so that I thought he would order me to make them as my heirs.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6014

“Have you given some to our neighbor, the Jew? ... I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: 'Jibril continued to advise me about (treating) the neighbors so (kindly and politely), that I thought he would order me (from Allah) to make them heirs.'”

Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1943

Do this before next time

Learn the names of the people who live either side of your home this week.

A cream clay wall between two houses with a small gold clay star on top and no cracks

Lesson 2 · Iman · ages 8-11

Never harm your neighbour

The Prophet ﷺ said whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour, and should entertain his guest generously.

  2. Harm includes noise

    Shouting late, blocking a doorway, kicking a ball into their garden repeatedly — small harms are still harms.

  3. Tied to iman

    The hadith connects it to believing in Allah and the Last Day, not to whether the neighbour is nice.

  4. Do not spy or spread

    Allah forbids spying on people and carrying tales about them.

  5. Apologise fast

    When you do cause harm, going to say sorry the same day keeps a neighbourhood well.

Surah Al-Hujuraat · 49:12

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌۭ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًۭا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanuj taniboo kaseeram minaz zanni inna ba'daz zanniismunw wa laa tajassasoo wa la yaghtab ba'dukum ba'daa; a yuhibbu ahadukum any yaakula lahma akheehi maitan fakarih tumooh; wattaqul laa; innal laaha tawwaabur Raheem

“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.”

Surah Al-Ahzaab · 33:58

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلُوا۟ بُهْتَٰنًۭا وَإِثْمًۭا مُّبِينًۭا

Wallazeena yu'zoonal mu'mineena almu'manaati bighairi mak tasaboo faqadih tamaloo buhtaananw wa ismam mubeenaa

“And those who harm believing men and believing women for [something] other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin.”

Surah An-Nisaa · 4:36

۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًۭا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًۭا فَخُورًا

Wa'budul laaha wa laa tushrikoo bihee shai'anw wa bilwaalidaini ihsaananw wa bizil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni waljaari zilqurbaa waljaaril junubi wassaahibi biljambi wabnis sabeeli wa maa malakat aimaanukum; innal laaha laa yuhibbu man kaana mukhtaalan fakhooraa

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

“Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6018

Do this before next time

Name one thing you do that could annoy a neighbour, and stop doing it this week.

A cream clay plate of food being passed over a low sage clay wall

Lesson 3 · Ihsan · ages 5-7

The best neighbour with Allah

The Prophet ﷺ said the neighbour who is best with Allah is the one who is best to his neighbour.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said the neighbour who is best to Allah is the one who is best to his neighbour.

  2. Not just avoiding harm

    Being the best neighbour means doing good, not only staying out of the way.

  3. Small good is still good

    A greeting, a carried bag, a returned parcel — the Sunnah counts all of it.

  4. Be the one who starts

    You do not wait for a neighbour to be kind first; you go first and Allah records it.

  5. Salaam counts

    Saying salaam or a kind greeting is the easiest door into being a good neighbour.

Surah An-Nisaa · 4:36

۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًۭا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًۭا فَخُورًا

Wa'budul laaha wa laa tushrikoo bihee shai'anw wa bilwaalidaini ihsaananw wa bizil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni waljaari zilqurbaa waljaaril junubi wassaahibi biljambi wabnis sabeeli wa maa malakat aimaanukum; innal laaha laa yuhibbu man kaana mukhtaalan fakhooraa

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:195

وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa anfiqoo fee sabeelil laahi wa laa tulqoo bi aydeekum ilat tahlukati wa ahsinoo; innal laaha yuhibbul muhsineen

“And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.”

Surah Al-Qasas · 28:77

وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ

Wabtaghi feemaaa aataakal laahud Daaral Aakhirata wa laa tansa naseebaka minad dunyaa wa ahsin kamaaa ahsanal laahu ilaika wa laa tabghil fasaada fil ardi innal laaha laa yuhibbul mufsideen

“But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters."”

“The companion who is the best to Allah is the one who is best to his companion. And the neighbor that is the best to Allah is the one that is best to his neighbor.”

Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1944

Do this before next time

Do one helpful thing for a neighbour without being asked.

A cream clay cup and clay bread set out on a sage clay mat beside an open clay door

Lesson 4 · Diyafah · ages 8-11

Honouring a guest

The Prophet ﷺ said whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his guest generously, and set out how long that lasts.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his guest generously.

  2. There is a measure

    He ﷺ said the guest's due is a superior food for a day and a night, and hosting for three days; beyond that is charity.

  3. And a limit for the guest

    The same hadith says a guest should not stay so long that he burdens his host.

  4. Children can host

    Bringing water, taking coats and sitting with a guest's child is real hosting.

  5. Ibrahim's example

    Allah tells how Ibrahim hurried to bring his guests a roasted calf before anything else.

Surah Hud · 11:69

وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمًۭا ۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمٌۭ ۖ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍۢ

Wa laqad jaaa'at Rusulunaaa Ibraaheema bilbushraa qaaloo salaaman qaala salaamun famaa labisa an jaaa'a bi'ijin haneez

“And certainly did Our messengers come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, "Peace." He said, "Peace," and did not delay in bringing [them] a roasted calf.”

Surah Adh-Dhaariyat · 51:26

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍۢ سَمِينٍۢ

Faraagha ilaaa ahlihee fajaaa'a bi'ijlin sameen

“Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf”

Surah Adh-Dhaariyat · 51:27

فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

Faqarrabahooo ilaihim qaala alaa taakuloon

“And placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?"”

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously. The guest's reward is: To provide him with a superior type of food for a night and a day and a guest is to be entertained with food for three days.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6135

Do this before next time

Be the one who brings the drinks to the next guest who visits your home.

A cream clay cooking pot with a clay ladle and a small clay bowl beside it on a sage clay stand

Lesson 5 · Sharing · ages 5-7

Add water to the pot

The Prophet ﷺ told Abu Dharr that when he cooked broth he should add water so there was enough to send to his neighbour.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said: Abu Dharr, when you prepare the broth, add water to that and give that as a present to your neighbour.

  2. Sharing is planned

    You add the extra water at the start — good neighbouring is decided before the food is ready.

  3. Not leftovers

    It is a present, so it goes out looking like something you would be happy to receive.

  4. A cheerful face too

    The Prophet ﷺ said do not think any good small, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.

  5. Send with the child

    Carrying the plate next door is a task children in the Sunnah's world always did.

Surah Al-Insaan · 76:8

وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًۭا وَيَتِيمًۭا وَأَسِيرًا

Wa yut''imoonat ta'aama 'alaa hubbihee miskeenanw wa yatemanw wa aseeraa

“And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:177

۞ لَّيْسَ ٱلْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَٰهَدُوا۟ ۖ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ فِى ٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلْبَأْسِ ۗ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ

Laisal birra an tuwalloo wujoohakum qibalal mashriqi walmaghribi wa laakinnal birra man aamana billaahi wal yawmil aakhiri wal malaaa 'ikati wal kitaabi wan nabiyyeena wa aatalmaala 'alaa hubbihee zawilqurbaa walyataa maa walmasaakeena wabnas sabeeli wassaaa'ileena wa firriqaabi wa aqaamas salaata wa aataz zakaata walmoofoona bi ahdihim izaa 'aahadoo wasaabireena fil baasaaa'i waddarraaa'i wa heenal baas; ulaaa'ikal lazeena sadaqoo wa ulaaa 'ika humul muttaqoon

“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.”

Surah Aal-i-Imraan · 3:92

لَن تَنَالُوا۟ ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌۭ

Lan tanaalul birra hattaa tunfiqoo mimmaa tuhibboon; wa maa tunfiqoo min shai'in fa innal laaha bihee 'Aleem

“Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”

“Abu Dharr, when you prepare the broth, add water to that and give that (as a present) to your neighbour.”

Sahih Muslim 2625b

“Don't consider anything insignificant out of good things even if it is that you meet your brother with a cheerful countenance.”

Sahih Muslim 2626

Do this before next time

Ask to cook or plate something at home this week and take a portion to a neighbour.

Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path

Next on this shelf: Mercy to every living thing — 5 lessons.

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