Unmodern Aspects of Islam (27): Forgotten Neighbors

 

Did you know that in many modern cities, people can live for years in the same building without ever knowing their neighbors’ names? Surrounded by walls, screens, and locked doors, we’ve become strangers next door.

This neglect weakens communities. When neighbors don’t know or care about one another, loneliness grows, safety declines, and hearts harden. We gain privacy but lose belonging.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Jibrīl kept advising me about the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6014; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2625)
Neighborly rights in Islam aren’t optional—they’re sacred. To care, to visit, to protect, and to share: these acts turn a group of houses into a true community.

The early Muslims embodied this. They would send food next door, check on one another’s wellbeing, and treat neighbors like extended family. This bond created strong, resilient societies where no one was left isolated.

What about us? One knock, one smile, one shared meal can revive the Sunnah of neighborly care. In doing so, we don’t just open our doors—we open our hearts.

In a modern world, the Sunnah is our way back to what truly matters.