DO GOOD TO YOUR NEIGHBORS
[Photo: Jame’ Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque]
“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.”
-Surah an-Nisa: Verse 1
Silaturrahim is a relationship or link formed between family members, relatives, friends, peers, neighbors and other. Doing kindness to other human being, regardless of religion, rank or race is one way to develop the bond. It was stated in Hadith Rasulullah SAW where preserving good connections and honoring one’s neighbors are among the perfections in complementing one’s neighbors:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah, The Prophet said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not hurt (trouble) his neighbor.” [Imam Muslim]
During the Friday preaches, it mentioned how it is essential to do good and establish relationships among neighbors in order to maintain community and national harmony. In order to have a good connection with our neighbor, it is important to keep and follow the noble principles as structured in our faith, for instance; applying the attitude of assisting each other, greeting each other, saying hello, caring for each other’s feelings, mutual respect and aiding the neighbor when they need help or in danger. It is critical to do good and have a positive connection with one another. This is because in Islam, neighbor are considered as a close family and is in the best position to help us and with a friendly and mutually caring attitude, it may make the community and country’s life more unified and peaceful in some way.
In Islam also teaches us on never damage other people’s heart and sentiments, either via speech or action and always try our best to maintaining cleanliness in the neighborhood such as avoiding leaving grass or tress in the yard to disrupt the area of a neighbor’s house as well as not allowing any trash and litter to pile up and create a foul and unpleasant odor. Additionally, avoid from producing excessive noise or conducting late-night entertainment activities that may disturb the neighbor and causing them having difficulty to sleep. As a Muslim, we should know that people that injure and disturb their neighbor will not enter paradise as stated in Hadith Rasulullah SAW as well as in the Holy Quran:
“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 an-Nisa: Verse 36
Reference: Friday preaches 23rd July 2021 http://www.kheu.gov.bn/Lists/Khutbah/NewDisplayItem.aspx?ID=911&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ekheu%2Egov%2Ebn%2Flists%2Fkhutbah%2Fviewall%2Easpx&ContentTypeId=0x0100EE34442FD552CC4FAECE608C6A2C143B