Al-Bayhaqi on Excellence and Generosity Toward Neighbors

Al-Bayhaqi records in his book Al-Adab, the Chapter on Excellence Toward Neighbors:

باب‏:‏ في الإحسان إلى الجيران

Chapter: On Excellence Toward Neighbors

Allah Almighty says:

وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا

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 4:36]

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ‏

Gabriel continued to enjoin good treatment upon my neighbors until I thought he would make them inherit from me.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6354]

Abu Shurayh Al-Khaza’i reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُحْسِنْ إِلَى جَارِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should behave well towards his neighbor, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak goodness or remain silent.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 75]

In another narration, the Prophet said:

فَلا يُؤْذِي جَارَهُ

He should not harm his neighbor.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 76]

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

فَلْيُكْرِمْ جَارَهُ‏

He should honor his neighbor.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 78]

Abu Shurayh Al-Ka’ab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ وَاللَّهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ

By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe.

It was said, “Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?” He said:

 الَّذِي لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَايِقَهُ

The person whose neighbor is not safe from his evil.

[Sahih Bukhari, Book 73, Number 45]

Aisha reported: I asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I have two neighbors so which one should I go to?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِلَى أَقْرَبِهِمَا مِنْكَ بَابًا‏

The closest of the two to your door.

[Sahih Bukhari, Book 35, Number 460]

Abu Dharr reported: He said, “Enjoin good upon me.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

 أَنْ أَسْمَعَ وَأُطِيعَ وَلَوْ لِعَبْدٍ مُجَدَّعِ الأَطْرَافِ، وَإِذَا صَنَعْتُ مَرَقَةً أَنْ أُكْثِرَ مَاءَهَا، ثُمَّ أَنْظُرُ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ قَرِيبٍ مِنْ بَيْتِي فَأُصِيبُهُمْ مِنْهَا بِمَعْرُوفٍ‏

Listen and obey even if a slave is appointed your leader. And when you make soup, put extra water in it and look to the neighbors nearest to your house and give them from it within good reason.

[Musnad Ahmad, Number 20918]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

يَا نِسَاءَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ، لا تَحْقِرَنَّ جَارَةٌ لِجَارَتِهَا وَلَوْ فِرْسِنَ شَاةٍ

O believing women, do not let a neighbor belittle another, even if given only a sheep’s hoof.

[Muwatta, Number 1731]

Mujahid reported: We were sitting with Abdullah ibn Umar ibn Al-‘As and his children were serving a sheep. He said to his children, “O boys! When you are finished, then go to our Jewish neighbor,” until he said it three times. A man from his people said, “You mention a Jew? May Allah correct you!” So he said:

إِنَّنِي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُوصِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَوْ رَأَيْنَا أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ

Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, enjoin good upon the neighbor until we thought he would make them our heirs.

[Al-Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Number 128]

Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي يَشْبَعُ وَجَارُهُ جَائِعٌ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ

He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbor to his side goes hungry.

[Al-Bayhaqi, Sunan Al-Kubra, Number 19049, Sahih]