Page 179 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

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The Messenger of Allah (saas) advised Muslims to behave
properly toward their neighbors, to watch and protect them,
and to help them as much as they could. Probably nobody else
has ever given so much attention to the rights of neighbors.
This can be easily comprehended by looking at his hadiths. The
believers’ obligations toward their neighbors are put on the
same footing as those held toward parents and spouses.
“Whoever believes in Allah and in the Day of Judgment
must be kind and gentle to his neighbors, and must enter-
tain his guest with kindness and generosity.” (Sahih al-
Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Aisha (ra) related: “One day I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah,
I have two neighbors. Which one shall I favor with a gift
first?’ The Messenger of Allah replied: ‘The one whose
door is closer to you.’”
Visiting the Sick
Among the times when Muslims most need each other is
when they are sick. Visiting sick people is important, for this
increases feelings of unity and gives hope to the sick person.
“One who visits the sick is, in fact, like one who is in the
fruit garden of Paradise until he returns.” (Sahih Muslim,
Book 032, Number 6227)
The Prophet (saas) used to visit sick people and strengthen
them with his words. He told his community that all of them
must do this. In the first years of the Islamic era, it became a
tradition to inform the Prophet (saas) of who was about to die
so that he could ask for forgiveness for him or her. He would
visit the deceased person’s house, pray for him or her, and
then perform the ritual funerary prayer.
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (saas) visited a patient or

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