Inspiring Story-Strength lies in unity

Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew

in search of food led by their king. One day, they had 

flown a long distance and were very tired. The dove king 

encouraged them to fly a little further. The smallest dove 

picked up speed and found some rice scattered beneath 

a banyan tree. So all the doves landed and began to eat.

Suddenly a net fell over them and they were all trapped. 

They saw a hunter approaching carrying a huge club. 

The doves desperately fluttered their wings trying to 

get out, but to no avail.

The king had an idea. He advised all the doves to fly up 

together carrying the net with them. He said that there 

was strength in unity.

Each dove picked up a portion of the net and together 

they flew off carrying the net with them. The hunter looked 

up in astonishment. He tried to follow them, but they were 

flying high over hills and valleys. They flew to a hill near a 

city of temples where there lived a mouse who could help them. 

He was a faithful friend of the dove king.

When the mouse heard the loud noise of their approach, 

he went into hiding. The dove king gently called out to him 

and then the mouse was happy to see him. The dove king 

explained that they had been caught in a trap and needed 

the mouse's help to gnaw at the net with his teeth and 

set them free.

The mouse agreed saying that he would set the king free first.

The king insisted that he first free his subjects and the king 

last. The mouse understood the king's feelings and compled 

with his wishes. He began to cut the net and one by one all

the doves were freed including the dove king.

They all thanked the mouse and flew away together, united 

in their strength.

Moral of the Story: 

Strength lies in unity and weakness in division.

Rights of Neighbors in Islam part-2

Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and 

do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), 

the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is 

a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer 

(you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. 

(Noble Qur'an, 4:36)

Sayyed Jawad Ameli, a great Mujtahid, was having his dinner

when someone knocked at his door. A servant from his master, 

Ayatullah Sayyed Mehdi Bahrul Uloom, appeared and said: 

"Your master has sent for you to come immediately. He has 

just sat down for his dinner but refuses to eat until he sees you."

There was no time to lose. Sayyed Jawad Ameli left his dinner 

and rushed to Ayatullah Sayyed Mehdi Bahrul Uloom's residence. 

Just as he entered, the master looked disapprovingly at him 

and said: "Sayyed Jawad! You have no fear of Allah! Don't you 

feel ashamed in front of Allah?"

This came as a shock to him, as he could not remember doing 

anything to incur the wrath of his master. Sayyed Jawad Ameli 

said: "My master may guide me where I have failed."

Ayatullah Sayyed Mehdi Bahrul Uloom replied: "It is now a week 

that your neighbor and his family are without wheat and rice. 

He was trying to buy some dates from a shop on credit but 

the shopkeeper refused to grant him any more credit. 

He returned home empty-handed and the family is without 

a morsel of food."

Sayyed Jawad Ameli was taken by surprise. "By Allah", he said, 

"I have no knowledge about this." That is why I am displeased 

all the more.

How can you be unaware of your own neighbor? Seven days of 

difficulties have passed and you tell me you do not know about it. 

Well, If you had known and ignored him despite your knowledge, 

then you would not even he a Muslim," 

Ayatullah Sayyed Mehdi Bahrul Uloom adjoined. Then he instructed 

him to take all the dishes of food before him to his neighbor. 

"Sit with him to eat, so that he does not feel ashamed. And 

take this sum for his future ration. Place it under his pillow or 

carpet so that he is not humiliated, and inform me when 

this work is completed, for not until then shall I eat."

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 

"There are Three categories of neighbours. First: one who has 

Three rights upon you. This is the one who is a Muslim neighbour 

and also a relative. Second: One who has two rights. 

A Muslim neighbour and third: The Kafir neighbour who has only 

the rights of a neighbour."

Rights of Neighbors in Islam

Noble Qur'an tells us that all of mankind is descended 

from one couple, Adam and Eve. Thus we are 

all brothers and sisters, and our differences in languages 

and colors are but a mercy that we might know one another. 

Language and race should never be a reason for 

discriminating against people.

A Muslim should maintain good relations with his relatives, 

but he should not unjustly favor them over others. Further, 

a Muslim must be good to his neighbors, no matter their 

religion. But the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us that 

a "neighbor" is not just the one next door but includes all 

those up to forty houses in all directions - effectively 

a whole neighborhood.

An Ansar (emigrant) came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and 

said that he has recently purchased a house in a particular area 

and that his nearest person was such that he had no hope of 

any goodness from him and that he felt unsafe from his mischief. 

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) told 

Imam Ali (as), Salman Al-Farsi,Abu Zar Ghaffari and 

Miqdad ibn Aswad to go to the Mosque and announce: 

"He is not a believer whose neighbour is unsafe from his mischief." 

They announced it thrice and then to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 

pointed towards forty doors to his right and forty to the left 

indicating that forty houses in every direction constitute ones 

neighbourhood. One is obliged to observe their rights.

This concern for our neighbors can take many forms. It means to 

ensure that our neighbors have the basic necessities, for a Muslim 

should not eat if his or her neighbor is going hungry. It means that 

Muslims should wish for their neighbors what they wish for themselves. 

It means sharing their happiness and sorrow. Further, it means to 

not spy on them and respect their privacy, to not gossip about them, 

to not harm them in any way, and to keep common use areas - 

such as apartment building entrances, streets and sidewalks - clean.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was told 

of a woman who prayed during night and fasted a lot during day and 

gave alms generously, but whose neighbors complained of her 

abusive tongue. He said that she would be in Hellfire. 

When Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was 

told of another woman who did not do all those extra acts of 

worship other than just compulsory (Wajib) but whose neighbors 

were happy with her, he said that she would be in Paradise. 

Thus we see the importance of being good to our neighbors, 

both in actions and words.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) on the rights 

of the neighbour, said: "It is to help him if he asks your help, 

to lend him if he asks to borrow from you, to satisfy his needs 

if he becomes poor, to console him if he is visited by an affliction, 

to congratulate him if is met with good fortune, to visit him 

if he becomes ill, to attend his funeral if he dies, not to make 

your house higher than his without his consent lest you deny him 

the breeze, to offer him fruit when you buy some or to take it 

to your home secretly if you do not do that, nor to send out 

your children with it so as not to upset his children, nor to 

bother him by the tempting smell of your food unless you send 

him some." The Scale of Wisdom, P.234/235 no.1308

Imam Ali (as) says: A person is either your brother in faith, or 

your equal in humanity.