“Islam repeatedly emphasises the rights of one’s neighbours and instructs Muslims to be considerate to their needs. For example, chapter 4, verse 37 of the Holy Quran imposes a code of moral values, which true Muslims must adopt and live their lives by and it guides them about how to interact with other members of society.
Where on the one hand, the verse states that Muslims must worship Allah the Almighty alone and not associate any partners with Him, it also commands them to show compassion and love to all mankind. First of all, the verse calls on Muslims to treat their parents with tenderness and affection, as our parents are the people who have loved us selflessly and made countless sacrifices for our benefit. Thereafter, Muslims are taught to be loving and sincere to their relatives and friends. They are taught to be sympathetic to orphans and to all people who are suffering or are vulnerable in any way.
The verse then categorically states that Muslims must fulfil the rights of their neighbours, including those with whom they have personal relations and those with whom they do not. Fulfilling the rights of neighbours means that Muslims must treat their neighbours with grace and compassion and be ever ready to help them in their times of need and to be a shoulder to cry on in their times of grief. It means to respect them and to hold them in the highest regard.
Who is a neighbour?
Furthermore, according to Islam, the definition of a neighbour is extremely far-reaching. The Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated that a person’s neighbours are not just those who live in the immediate vicinity, but include at least the nearest fourty houses. Additionally, the Quran teaches that a person’s neighbours include his work colleagues and travel companions.”
(Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Spiritual Leader of the Ahamdiyya Muslim Community, 29th June 2019)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta 