A neighbour is anyone whose life sits close to yours, and Islam gives that nearness real weight. This chapter gathers the rights of the jar, the neighbour, and shows that how you treat the person next door is a direct measure of your faith. The angel Jibril stressed it so often that the Prophet (peace be upon him) almost expected neighbours to be given a share of inheritance.
Across these hadith two threads run together. The first is active kindness: sharing food, exchanging gifts however small, never blocking a neighbour's small need. The second is restraint: a true believer is one from whose harm his neighbour feels completely safe. Faith here is tested not in the mosque but at the shared wall and the front door.
Hadith 303
Ibn 'Umar and 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر وعائشة رضي الله عنهما قالا: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " ما زال جبريل يوصيني بالجار حتى ظننت أنه سيورثه" ((متفق عليه)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Jibril kept recommending treating neighbours with kindness until I thought he would assign a share of inheritance". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The angel Jibril stressed kindness to neighbours so persistently that the Prophet (peace be upon him) thought neighbours might even be given a share of inheritance, showing how weighty their rights are.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 303 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 303
Hadith 304
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "يا أبا ذر إذا طبخت مرقة، فأكثر ماءها، وتعاهد جيرانك" ((رواه مسلم)). وفي رواية له عن أبي ذر قال: إن خليلي صلى الله عليه وسلم أوصاني: " إذا طبخت مرقًا فأكثر ماءها، ثم انظر أهل بيت من جيرانك، فأصبهم منها بمعروف".
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded me thus, "O Abu Dharr! Whenever you prepare a broth, put plenty of water in it, and and give some of it to your neighbours". [Muslim]. In another narration of Muslim, narrated Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him): My friend, (Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) advised me saying, "Whenever you prepare a broth, put plenty of water in it, and give some to your neighbours and then give them out of this with courtesy."
In plain words
A simple act of neighbourliness: when you cook, add a little extra and share some with those nearby.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 304 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 304
Hadith 305
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " والله لا يؤمن، والله لايؤمن، والله لا يؤمن!" قيل: من يا رسول الله؟ قال: " الذي لا يأمن جاره بوائقه ! " ((متفق عليه)). وفي رواية لمسلم: " لايدخل الجنة من لا يأمن جاره بوائقه".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer." It was asked, "Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "One whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Another narration of Muslim is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He will not enter Jannah whose neighbour is not secure from his wrongful conduct".
In plain words
Repeating his words for emphasis, the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that a person whose neighbour is not safe from his harm falls short in faith.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 305 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 305
Hadith 306
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " يا نساء المسلمات لا تحقرن جارة لجارتها ولو فرسن شاة" ((متفق عليه)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "O Muslim women! No one of you should consider insignificant (a gift) to give to her neighbour even if it is (a gift of) the trotters of a sheep". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
No gift to a neighbour is too small to give, even something as modest as the feet of a sheep, so never hold back out of embarrassment.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 306 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 306
Hadith 307
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " لا يمنع جار جارة أن يغرز خشبة في جداره" ثم يقول أبو هريرة: ما لي أراكم عنها معرضين! والله لأرمين بها بين أكتافكم. ((متفق عليه)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "No one should prohibit his neighbour from placing a peg in his wall". Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) added: Now I see you turning away from this (Sunnah), but by Allah, I shall go on proclaiming it. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
A neighbour should not refuse a small, harmless request, such as letting a peg be fixed in a shared wall.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 307 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 307
Hadith 308
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فلا يؤذِ جاره، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليكرم ضيفه، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليقل خيرًا أو ليسكت" ((متفق عليه)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him not harm his neighbour; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him show hospitality to his guest; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him speak good or remain silent". [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
True faith in Allah and the Last Day shows itself in not harming one's neighbour, honouring guests, and speaking good or staying silent.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 308 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 308
Hadith 309
Abu Shuraih Al-Khuza'i (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
و عن أبي شريح الخزاعي رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليكرم ضيفه، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فليقل خيرًا أو ليسكت" ((رواه مسلم بهذا اللفظ، وروى البخاري بعضه)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him be kind to his neighbour; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him show hospitality to his guest; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him either speak good or remain silent". [Muslim].
In plain words
Faith in Allah and the Last Day calls for kindness to neighbours, hospitality to guests, and either good speech or silence.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 309 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 309
Hadith 310
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قلت: يارسول الله إن لي جارين، فإلى أيهما أُهْدِي؟ قال: " إلى أقربهما منك بابًا" ((رواه البخاري)).
I said, "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I have two neighbours, to which of them should I send a present?" He (ﷺ) replied, "To the one whose door is nearer to you". [Al-Bukhari]
In plain words
When unsure which neighbour to give a gift to, begin with the one whose door is closest to yours.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 310 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 310
Hadith 311
'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "خير الأصحاب عند الله تعالى خيرهم لصاحبه، وخير الجيران عند الله تعالى خيرهم لجاره" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best of companions with Allah is the one who is best to his companions, and the best of neighbours to Allah is the one who is the best of them to his neighbour". [At-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].
In plain words
Among companions and neighbours, the best in Allah's sight is the one who treats his companions and his neighbour the best.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 311 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 311