Sayyid Jawad ‘Ameli, a great Mujtahid, was having his dinner when someone knocked at his door. A servant from his master, Ayatullah Sayy...
Sayyid Jawad ‘Ameli, a great Mujtahid, was having his dinner when someone knocked at his door. A servant from his master, Ayatullah Sayyid Mahdi Bahrul-‘Uloom appeared and said, “Your master has asked you to see him immediately. He has just sat down for his dinner but refuses to eat until he sees you”.
There was no time to lose. Sayyid ‘Ameli left his dinner and rushed to Sayyid Bahrul-‘Uloom’s residence. Just as he entered, the master looked disapprovingly at him and said: “Sayyid Jawad! You have no fear of Allah! Don’t you feel ashamed of Allah?”
This struck, as a thunderbolt for Sayyid Jawad could not remember doing anything to incur the wrath of his master. He asked with utmost humbleness: “My master may guide me where I have failed”.
“It is now a week that your neighbour and his family are without wheat or rice. They were buying some dates from a grocer on credit and today the grocer refused to grant him any further credit. He returned home empty-handed and the family is without a morsel of food”. Sayyid Mahdi said.
Sayyid Jawad was shocked. “By Allah” he said, “I have no knowledge about this”. Sayyid Mahdi looked at him angrily and said, “This is why I am even more displeased with you. How can you be unaware of your own neighbour? Seven days of difficulties have passed and you tell me that you do not know about it? Well, if you had known about it and ignored him despite your knowledge, then you would not even be a Muslim”.
Thereafter Sayyid Mahdi Bahrul-‘Uloom instructed Sayyid Jawad to take all the dishes of food before him to the neighbour. “Sit with him to eat, so that he does not feel ashamed. And take this sum for his future provision. Place it under his pillow or carpet so that he is not humiliated. And inform me when this work is completed. Till then, I shall not eat”.
(Al-Kani wal Alqaab, Muhaddis Qummi)
QURANIC INSTRUCTION:
“Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him; and do good to the parents, and the kinsfolk, and the orphans, and the needy, and the neighbours who are near, and the neighbours who are strangers, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and which your right hands possess; verily Allah does not love the proud, the boastful”. (4:36)
PROPHETIC INSTRUCTIONS:
The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, “One who believes in Allah and the Judgement Day shall not harm his neighbours”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)
He (saww) has also said, “He is not from us whose neighbours are not safe from his harm”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)
Mentioning some rights of a neighbour, the Holy Prophet (saww) said,
“If he seeks help, then help him. If he asks for a loan, then loan him. If he is in need, then fulfil his need. If he is happy, then congratulate him over his happiness. If he falls ill, then pay him a visit. If a calamity befalls him, then offer solace to him. If he dies, then attend his funeral. Without his permission, do not raise your structure so high as to block flow of air into his house. We you buy fruits, then send some to him…”
(Bihar al-Anwaar)
(Bihar al-Anwaar)
He (saww) also said, “Gabriel (Jibrael) enjoined me about (the rights of) the neighbours so much that I thought they (neighbours) will be included in the heritage”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)
