Careful in avoiding sin against neighbour THE IDEAL MUSLIM: The true Islamic Personality as defined in the Qur'an and the Sunnah By Dr Muhammad Ali al-Hashimi Thursday, 23 June, 2005 http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=41744&version=1&template_id=47&parent_id=27
The true Muslim is especially careful to avoid committing sins against his neighbour, because a sin against a neighbour is worse than other crimes, according to the words of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam). He quizzed his Companions about adultery and they said, "It is haram; Allah and His Messenger have prohibited it." He told them, "A man who commits adultery with 10 women has committed a lesser sin than one who commits adultery with his neighbour's wife." Then he quizzed them about stealing, and they said, "It is haram; Allah and His Messenger have prohibited it." He told them, "A man who steals from 10 households has committed a lesser sin than the one who steals from his neighbour's house." [Reported by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad] The neighbour in Islam enjoys a unique sanctity which is unknown in other manmade laws and systems. Those manmade laws encourage the violation of a neighbour's honour because it is usually easier and there are more opportunities to do so than to violate the honour of others. Islam has encouraged this noble human attitude and behaviour in the many texts concerning the good treatment of one's neighbour, protecting his honour, concealing his faults, helping him when he is in need, lowering one's gaze from his womenfolk, and keeping away from everything that may harm him or make him suspicious. It is no surprise, then, that the true Muslim is the best neighbour that any human society has ever known. The Muslim who is truly sensitive and aware of the teachings of his religion concerning the good treatment of neighbours, will be very cautious indeed concerning any dispute that may arise between himself and his neighbour for any reason, because of the warning of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) against arguing with neighbours: "The first two antagonists on the Day of Judgement will be two neighbours." [Reported by Ahmad and at-Tabarani] The true Muslim does not spare any effort to help his neighbour, opening wide the door of care, friendship ad generosity. He is careful to fulfil his duty towards him lest the words of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) concerning the miserly, unhelpful neighbour become applicable to him: "How many people will be hanging on to their neighbours on the Day of Resurrection, saying: `O my Lord! He shut his door in my face and denied me his kind treatment and help!'" [Reported by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad.] What a miserable position the miserly, uncaring neighbour will be in on the Day of Judgement! According to Islam, the Muslims are like a wall, whose bricks are the people of the ummah. Each brick must be sound, and strongly bonded with the others, to make this wall sturdy and enduring; otherwise it will become weak and prone to collapse. Thus Islam surrounds this wall with strong spiritual ties, to preserve its integrity and strength, so that it will not be shaken no matter what events befall it. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) gave a marvellous metaphor of the Muslims' solidarity and mutual support: "The believers are like a wall whose bricks are fitted tightly together; each one of them supports another." [al-Bukhari]. "The believers, in their mutual friendship, mercy and affection, are like one body: if any part of it complains, the rest of the body will also stay awake in pain." [al-Bukhari] To be continued, Insha Allah http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=41744&version=1&template_id=47&parent_id=27 *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! 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