How Should We Deal with a Bad Neighbor?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Question
How should we deal with a bad neighbor?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
If we consider the family the first foundational unit in the structure and cohesion of Muslim society, then neighborly relations are the second unit. A good relationship between neighbors is a sign of happiness, which is why Sacred Law places great emphasis on maintaining its integrity.
Many explicit Sacred Law texts address this matter. If a neighbor does not appreciate the importance of this relationship and causes harm, one must first be patient with them, then advise and remind them kindly. If they do not respond, there is no harm in reporting them to the relevant authority that can address their behavior and stop their harm. And Allah knows best.
Detailed Answer
Just as the family is the first unit in the fabric of Islamic society, and its righteousness and cohesion contribute to the well-being and stability of society, likewise, neighbors or the neighborhood form the second unit. Therefore, Islamic law has commanded the preservation of this relationship and the offering of advice regarding it in all its conditions and forms.
Allah (Most High) says:
“Worship Allah (alone) and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbors, close friends, (needy) travelers, and those (bondspeople) in your possession.” [Quran, 4:36]
Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Jibril kept advising me about the neighbor to the extent that I thought he would inherit from me.” [Bukhari;Muslim]
Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “O Abu Dharr, if you cook a broth, add more water to it and take care of your neighbors.” [Muslim]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) clarified that good neighborliness is a sign of happiness, while bad neighborliness is a sign of misery. He often sought refuge from a bad neighbor.
Sa‘d Ibn Abi Waqqas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Four things are from happiness: a righteous wife, a spacious home, a good neighbor, and a comfortable ride. And four things are from misery: a bad neighbor, a bad wife, a tight home, and a bad ride.” [Ibn Hibban; Diya’ al-Din al-Maqdisi, Kitab al-Ahadith al-Mukhtara]
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that among the supplications of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) were:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from a bad neighbor in a permanent home, for a neighbor in this world can change.” [Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad; Ibn Hibban]
Thus, harming a neighbor is especially prohibited in Islamic teachings. Ibn Rajab Hanbali state:
“As for harming the neighbor, it is forbidden. Indeed, causing harm without just cause is forbidden in general, but in the case of the neighbor, it is even more severely prohibited. In both Sahihs (Bukhari and Muslim), Ibn Mas‘ud reports that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was asked, ‘Which sin is the greatest?’ He said, ‘To set up a rival to Allah, though He alone created you.’ He was asked, ‘Then which?’ He said, ‘To kill your child for fear that he will share your food.’ He was asked, ‘Then which?’ He said, ‘To commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife.’” [Ibn Rajab, Jami‘ al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam]
After this important and necessary introduction, we return to answering the question and clarifying how to deal with a bad neighbor, which can be approached through the following stages:
First: Patience with Their Harm
Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Allah (Most High) loves a man who has a bad neighbor who harms him, but he remains patient and endures his harm, seeking reward from Allah (Most High) until Allah protects him either by the life or death of the neighbor.” [Ibn Abi al-Dunya, Makarim al-Akhlaq; Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman; Suyuti, al-Jami‘ al-Saghir]
‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Good neighborliness is not just refraining from harm but also showing patience when harmed.” [Suyuti, Jam‘ al-Jawami‘ (also known as al-Jami‘ al-Kabir)]
Second: Advising Them Kindly and Reminding Them of the Rights of Neighborliness
As mentioned, good neighborliness is closely linked to faith, as illustrated by these significant hadiths.
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that it was said to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace):
“O Messenger of Allah, such-and-such a woman prays at night, fasts during the day, and performs good deeds, but she harms her neighbors with her tongue.” The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“There is no good in her; she is among the people of the Fire.”
They said: “And such-and-such another woman prays only the obligatory prayers and gives some curd as a charity, but she does not harm anyone.” He said:
“She is among the people of Paradise.” [Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad; Hakim]
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!” It was asked: “Who, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “The one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm!” [Bukhari; Muslim]
In another narration: “He will not enter Paradise whose neighbor is not safe from his harm.” [Muslim]
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not harm his neighbor. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Third: Complaining to Those Who Can Rectify the Situation
If the harm persists despite patience and advice, one may complain to someone who has authority over the neighbor and can command them to cease their harm.
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have a neighbor who harms me.” He said:
“Go and take your belongings out into the street.”
So the man went and took his belongings out into the street. People gathered around him and asked, “What’s wrong?” He replied, “I have a neighbor who harms me, so I mentioned it to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and he told me to take my belongings out into the street.” The people began to say, “O Allah, curse him! O Allah, disgrace him!” When the neighbor heard of this, he came to him and said, “Go back to your home. By Allah, I will not harm you again.” [Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad; Hakim]
Conclusion
In such crucial relationships, we must demonstrate the highest level of patience and wisdom, while hoping for the reward from Allah (Most High). If the situation becomes uncontrollable and unbearable, there is no harm in lodging a complaint, as outlined above.
And Allah grants success.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Shari‘a and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
