Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Divine Perspective on Rights Right n. 32: The Right of the Neighbor حق الجار وَأمّا حَقُّ الجَارِ فَحِفْظُهُ غَائِبًا وَكَرَامَتُهُ شَاهِدًا ونُصْرَتُهُ وَمَعُونتُهُ فِي الحَالَينِ جَمِيعاً.
لا تَتَّبعْ لَهُ عَوْرَةً ولا تَبحَثْ لَهُ عَنْ سَوْءَ[ةٍ] لِتَعْرِفَهَا، فَإنْ عَرَفْتَهَا مِنْهُ عَنْ غَيْرِ إرَادَةٍ مِنْكَ وَلا تَكَلُّفٍ كُنْتَ لِمَا عَلِمْتَ حِصْناً حَصِيناً وَسِتْرًا سَتِيرًا، لَوْ بَحَثتِ الأَسِنَّةُ عَنْهُ ضَمِيرًا لَمْ تَتَّصِلْ إلَيْه لانطِوَائِهِ عَلَيهِ. لا تَسْتَمِعْ عَلَيهِ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَعْلَمُ. لا تُسَلِّمْهُ عِنْدَ شَديدَةٍ، ولا تَحْسُدْهُ عِنْدَ نِعْمَةٍ. تُقِيلُ عَثْرَتهُ وتَغْفِرْ زَلَّتَهُ.
ولا تَدَّخِرْ حِلْمَكَ عَنْهُ إذَا جَهِلَ عَلَيْكَ، ولا تَخرُجْ أَنْ تَكُونَ سُلَّمًا لَهُ. تَرُدُّ عَنهُ لِسَانَ الشَّتِيمَةِ، وَتُبْطِلُ فِيهِ كَيْدَ حَامِلِ النَّصِيحَةِ، وَتُعَاشِرَهُ مُعَاشَرَةً كَرِيمَةً. وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إلا باللهِ. And the right of your neighbor is that you should be a guardian for him when he is absent, and you should honor him when he is present, and you should assist and support him in both situations.
You should not pursue any of his imperfections, and you should not seek any of his faults. But if you should discover any of his faults unintentionally, you should take the role of a fortified stronghold and a veiling screen regarding what you know. You should guard them in such a way that none of his defects can be discovered even if they are thoroughly inspected with spears. And you should not eavesdrop on him, and you should not forsake him during times of hardship.
And you should not envy him when he receives a blessing. Pardon his deviation and forgive his mistakes. And do not lose your temper when he behaves out of ignorance with you. And do not stop to be his supporter, and answer those who scold him. And divulge for him the deception of those who counsel him, and associate with him in an honorable manner. And there is no power or strength but in God. The Arabic word ‘jar’ meaning neighbor is used with several implications in the Holy Qur’an.
In some places, it is used to refer to neighbors - close or far away. In the Holy Qur’an, it is also used to refer to those who seek asylum as in the following verse: وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ “If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him...” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Tawbah 9:6] The above word used for neighbor has the deeper meaning of security.