HADITH 36 for ages 9-10

Best Neighbour

Lessons learnt from this Hadith: We should always be kind to our neighbours. Never harm them in any way. We should always be the first to help them if they are in any difficulty. We should share our food with them. If they are poor we should assist them. We should not do any action which will cause problems like disturbing them when they are asleep. If they cause any difficulty to us we should be patient and forgive them.

One of the neighbours of Imaam Abu Haneefah was a cobbler. During the day he would be busy making and mending shoes and at night he would get drunk and sing till late, causing a disturbance. Every night, whilst performing Salaah, Imaam Abu Haneefah would hear him making noise. One night, Imaam Abu Haneefah did not hear him making noise. On making enquiries, he found out that the police had arrested the cobbler. Next morning, immediately after Salaah, Imaam Sahib went to the door of the governor of the city. The governor received him honourably and asked if he needed anything. Imaam Sahib said, "One of my neighbours has been arrested. I request the governor to release him." The governor ordered the release of Imaam Sahib's neighbour as well as all the other prisoners who were arrested on that day.

As Imaam Sahib was returning from the governor's house, his neighbour, who was now released, ran up to him and said, "You have made great consideration for me. May Allah grant you the greatest reward for protecting your neighbour." The cobbler repented from drinking alcohol. He then began to attend the gatherings of Imaam Sahib until he became one of the prominent Ulama of the time.

Activity: Do any of the following with your neighbors. Greet your neighbour with Salaam. Send some food to your neighbour. Help your neighbor. Forgive, if your neighbour bothers you. Write 5 lines on how your treated your neighbor.

Happy Land for Islamic Teachings Material taken from the book “Tasheelul Ahaadeeth wal Akhlaaq