Islam teaches that a neighbour is owed good treatment, consideration, and protection from harm. These are not merely optional gestures of friendliness: Qur’an 4:36 places neighbours among the people to whom Muslims are commanded to do good, while the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ repeatedly emphasized their rights. In daily life, this means taking care with noise and privacy, keeping shared spaces safe, and offering help thoughtfully—without assuming that every neighbourly custom is an identical religious duty.
What Qur’an 4:36 teaches about the neighbour
Qur’an 4:36 places kindness to neighbours within a wider command to worship Allah alone and do good to parents, relatives, orphans, people in need, travellers, and others. It names both “neighbours who are near” and “neighbours who are strangers,” showing that neighbourly care is not limited to close friends or people with whom one already shares a bond. The verse says: “Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;-” (Qur’an 4:36).
The verse connects good treatment with humility: care for others is part of a person’s conduct before Allah, not a favour offered only when convenient. Its broad list also helps clarify the principle. Neighbours belong within a wider ethic of care and justice, so respect should not depend on whether someone can repay a kindness or share one’s religion. The Qur’an also states: “Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.” (Qur’an 16:90).
Why the Prophet ﷺ stressed the neighbour’s rights
The Prophet ﷺ described Jibril’s repeated counsel about neighbours in striking terms: “Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Jibrīl kept enjoining me regarding the good treatment of the neighbor to the extent that I thought he would inherit him.’” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). The mention of inheritance conveys how persistently Jibril emphasized the neighbour’s importance; it does not mean that neighbours actually inherit one another. You can explore authentic hadiths about neighbours to read further narrations on this theme.
The teaching includes a firm warning against making a neighbour feel unsafe: “Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe.’ It was said: Who, O Messenger of Allah? He said: ‘The one whose neighbor is not safe from his evils.’” (Narrated by Bukhari). This is a warning about deficient or compromised faith, not a declaration that a particular person has left Islam. It makes avoiding harm central: repeated disturbance, intimidation, damage, or other conduct that leaves a neighbour unsafe contradicts the seriousness of the Prophet’s counsel.
What kindness and avoiding harm look like in daily life
Begin with the effects of your actions on the people living nearby. Keep music, gatherings, renovation, and other noise within considerate limits, especially when others may be resting. Respect privacy by not looking into homes, pressing for personal information, or entering without permission. Qur’anic guidance on entering private homes reinforces the importance of boundaries, and the Prophet ﷺ taught that a neighbour should be honoured. If a shared corridor, entrance, or parking area is involved, do not block access or leave hazards, rubbish, or belongings that could inconvenience or endanger others.
Kindness can also be practical and modest. If you cook more than you need, sharing some food can build goodwill; the Prophet ﷺ advised: “Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘O Abu Dharr, if you cook broth, increase its water and take care of your neighbors.’” (Narrated by Muslim). If a neighbour is ill, a brief visit, message, or offer to pick up essentials may be welcome. Ask what would help rather than assuming, and respect their wishes if they prefer privacy. The specific form of help depends on the person’s circumstances, but considerate attention is a clear expression of good treatment.
Some neighbourly situations involve shared property or competing needs. A report mentions the neighbour’s interest in a practical matter between adjoining homes: “Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘No one should prevent his neighbor from inserting a wooden peg into his wall.’ Abu Hurayrah then said: ‘Why do I see you averse to that? By Allah, I will spread it [forcefully] among you.’” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). This illustrates concern for reasonable neighbourly benefit, but it should not be turned into permission to damage property or disregard safety, consent, or applicable agreements. For a specific dispute, the details and scholarly interpretation matter.
Who counts as a neighbour, and how should differences be handled?
The Qur’an’s mention of near and more distant neighbours gives the principle a broad reach, but scholars have discussed how the precise scope of “neighbour” is determined. It may be understood in light of local custom and the closeness of homes, rather than by one universal distance that applies in every setting. A person in an apartment building may have neighbours above, below, and across a shared entrance; in another place, the term may naturally include nearby homes. For a fuller discussion of this question, see IslamQA’s explanation of who counts as a neighbour.
Good treatment also applies across differences of faith. The Qur’an says: “Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.” (Qur’an 60:8). This establishes kindness and justice toward peaceful people who do not share one’s faith. Particular practices—such as the form or extent of a visit, gift, or assistance—can vary with circumstances and scholarly views. The central guidance remains clear: act justly, show kindness, respect boundaries, and do not harm the people who live near you.
Qur’an 4:36 and the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings make good treatment and protection from harm central to a Muslim’s relationship with neighbours. Put this guidance into practice by managing noise, respecting privacy, keeping shared spaces safe, and offering help in ways the other person welcomes. Start with the people living closest to you, and let kindness and justice guide how you treat them.
Sources quoted
Every quotation was checked word for word against the Quran and hadith texts in our database.
- Surah An-Nisa, verse 36
- Surah Al-Mumtahina, verse 8
- Surah An-Nahl, verse 90
- Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim — authentic
- Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim — authentic
- Hadith narrated by Muslim — authentic
- Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari — authentic
The Al Muslim Plus editorial team · tested on October 24, 2026