In our cities, we can live next to someone for years without even knowing their name.
We take the same lift, park on the same street, meet on the stairs, yet we often know very little about the people who live only a few metres away from us.
Islam, however, places great importance on the neighbour.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Jibril continued to advise me to treat neighbours well until I thought he would make them heirs.”
This is a powerful teaching. A neighbour is not simply someone who lives next to our home. A neighbour is someone towards whom we have responsibilities.
Respecting them, not disturbing them, helping them when they are in difficulty, caring about their situation, and sharing what we can are small actions that help build a community.
And our neighbour does not necessarily have to belong to our religion, our culture, or share our background.
In European cities, this teaching takes on an even greater significance. On the same floor of a building there may live a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew, a person of another faith, or someone who does not profess any religion.
Peaceful coexistence does not come from everyone being the same. It comes from our ability to respect one another while being different.
Sometimes we think of interfaith dialogue as something that belongs only to conferences, official meetings, or religious leaders.
But there is also a much simpler form of dialogue.
Carrying groceries for an elderly neighbour.
Asking how someone is when we have not seen them for a few days.
Keeping the noise down so as not to disturb others.
Offering help to a family going through a difficult time.
Greeting one another with respect.
These are small gestures, but they have great value.
In a society where loneliness and mistrust can create distance between people, rediscovering the value of being a good neighbour also means rebuilding a sense of community.
We cannot solve all the conflicts of the world on our own.
But we can start next door.
Peace among peoples is a great goal. Peace among neighbours is one of the places where we can begin to build it.
European Muslims League – EML
The Neighbour in Islam: A Responsibility, Not Just Someone Who Lives Next Door
