The rights of neighbours and doing good to them in the sight...

The rights of neighbours and doing good to them in the sight of Islam is so important a matter, that Hazrat Imam Ali (AS) has said: ``The prophet put so much emphasis and stress on the observation of the rights of the neighbours that we thought he would finally order the neighbours to inherit one another.'' Once the prophet repeated thrice the phrase that: ``Upon my God he believes not in Me!'' When he was asked: ``who believes not in you?'' the prophet answered: ``He whose neighbour has no respite from his offence!'' 8- Then the verse refers to those who are associates, and have ties of friendship with us.

The Arabic `SA"HIB - BELJANB' which is translated here to; `near companions' has a wider meaning than a friend, a favourer, or an intimate. in rather demands sociability and [ 523 ] good and fair behaviour to all other people, and even to all man's fellow creatures. 9- The nineth group of people that are to be dealt with kindness and Mercy, are the wayfarers who have been in need of some help. The verse wants no one to avoid giving them a hand.

10- And finally the verse enjoins doing good to what our right hands possess. These recommended ones may still exist, not under the title of slavery, but in various forms, such as the people in your power and in your charge. Even the animals who are not able to speak and express their feelings are all God's creatures and God loves them all and therefore they deserve our sympathy and service.

الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـفِرِينَ عَذَاباً مُّهِيناً(( 37 )) 37- THOSE WHO ARE NIGGARDLY, AND BID PEOPLE TO BE NIGGARD, AND CONCEAL THAT WHICH ALLAH HAS BESTOWED UPON THEM OF HIS GRACE, AND WE HAVE PREPARED FOR THE UNBELIEVERS A CONTEMPTIBLE PUNISHMENT.

وَالَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ رِئَآءَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الاَْخِرِ وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَـنُ لَهُ قَرِيناً فَسَآءَ قَرِيناً(( 38 )) 38- AND THOSE WHO SPEND THEIR WEALTHS (IN ALMS) TO SHOW OFF TO PEOPLE, AND BELIEVE NOT IN ALLAH, NOR IN THE LAST DAY. AND HE WHOSE INTIMATE IS SATAN, AN EVIL INTIMATE IS HE.

وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُوا بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاَْخِرِ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ اللهُ وَكَانَ اللهُ بِهِمْ عَلِيماً(( 39 )) [ 524 ] 39- AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AGAINST THEM, HAD THEY BELIEVED IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY, AND GAVE IN CHARITY SOME OF THAT WHICH ALLAH HAS BESTOWED UPON THEM?AND ALLAH HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THEM.

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