Being Neighbourly

Being Neighbourly – Abdal Hakim Murad

Abdal Hakim Murad starts off with the praise of Allah. Moving on to Reconnecting with our biological order. He talks about religion being about interaction with others and human beings as social animals. Our interactions with others tell us about ourselves. Our tradition is not about isolation “khalwa”. Our aloneness becomes bearable when it's joined with the existence of other souls. All our aspects of the sunnah are collective ones, some nawafils are solitary and some others. But other principles are mainly collective. 

Next he talks about Ramadan, though is a solo act, brings a collective spirit and more family time and community time. Together everyone feasts over the book of God.

He then talks about what actually a near and a far neighbour and describes their various rights. According to the teachings of our Prophet SAW we need to be really considerate towards them, so much that before selling off a land we should offer it to our neighbour first, as it may be of benefit to him. 

Guests and neighbours should be honoured and shown hospitality, they should be served and treated nicely as its their right and important in islam. We need to be good, caring, thoughtful neighbours who look out for them as it will increase our status as a ummah as well. The neighbours will eventually appreciate islam and its beauty.

The fasting month instills this even more, courtesy to others as its part of the “adab” these adabs are fundamental parts of islam.

He ends his speech by making a short prayer and talks about Muslims being the people of dawah, showing concern for others, feeding others and being good neighbours and a good ummah.