the following announcement: “Listen, O people! 40 homes are your neighbours.”^[1]

Imam Zuhri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said in relation to this, “40 houses to the right, 40 to the left, 40 in front and 40 behind. Like so, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم indicated to these four directions.”^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

A necessary act for complete faith

O devotees of the Messenger! Islam has given neighbours great importance, such that showing good conduct towards one’s neighbours has been declared one of the actions that perfects one’s faith. In other words, we cannot become complete believers until we fulfil the rights of our neighbours.

Sayyidunā ʿAbdullah b. Masʿūd رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates, the final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: لَا یُؤْمِنُ عَبْدٌ لَا یَاْمَنُ جَارُہٗ بَوَائِقَہٗ - “A servant is not a (complete) believer if his neighbour is not safe from his evil.”^[3]

The one who does this has no faith…

On one occasion, the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم took an oath by Allah three times. He said: وَاللہِ لَایُؤْمِنُ - “By Allah! He cannot be a believer!” وَاللہِ لَایُؤْمِنُ - “By Allah! He cannot be a believer!” وَاللہِ لَایُؤْمِنُ - By Allah! He cannot be a believer!”