In addition to near and dear ones or relatives of a person, Islam has also given common Muslims some rights. lsbahani has mentioned these rights in his book Targhib wa Tarheeb from a narrative of Hazrat Ali (R.A.A.). These are mentioned below:
Contents
Rights of Muslims in General
1. If a Muslim brother commits a fault, excuse him.
2. Show him mercy when he weeps.
3. Conceal his weaknesses and shortcomings.
4. Accept his apology.
5. Try to remove his difficulties.
6. Wish and work always for his well-being.
7. Protect and love him.
8. Give him concession, if he is indebted or burdened.
9. Pay him visits when he is sick.
10. When he dies take part in his funeral and burial.
11. When he invites you accept his invitation.
12. Accept his gift.
13. Repay his good turns with goodness.
14. Give him thanks when you receive some blessings from him.
15. Help him in times of need.
16. Help and protect his family and children.
17. Supply his needs.
18. Respond to his prayer.
19. Accept his recommendation.
20. Do not disappoint him, if he asks you for anything.
21. If after sneezing he says “Al-ham-du lil-laah” (praise be to Allah), respond to him by saying “yar-ha-mu-kal-laah” (may, Allah have mercy on you).
22. If you come across his missing things, convey them to him.
23. Respond to his greeting.
24. Talk to him politely and amicably.
25. Always do good to him.
26. If he swears for anything, trusting upon you, fulfil his oath.
27. Help him, if someone does him wrong, so as to stop the wrongdoer from his wrongdoing.
28. Be friendly and do not be inimical to him.
29. Do not defame him.
30. Desire for him what you desire for yourself.
Some other traditions contain the following additional rights:
31. Salute him, and better, shake hands with him when you meet him.
32. If by chance a quarrel occurs between you and another Muslim reconcile the difference soon and do not stop conversation with him for more than three days.
33. Do not think ill of him.
34. Do not envy and hate him.
35. Enforce the rights and forbid the wrong to the best of your ability.
36. Be respectful to elders and kind to youngers.
37. If two Muslims fall out with each other, try to make peace between them.
38. Do not backbite another Muslim.
39. Do not cause him harm in any way, neither in wealth nor in honour.
40. Help him if he is unable to mount a conveyance or to load something on it.
41. Do not occupy his seat by depriving him of it.
42. Where there are three persons the two of them should not talk to each other by ignoring the third person. It should be remembered that the rights up to No. 30 are of a special nature, but the holders of those rights are also entitled to the rights mentioned at 31 to 42.
Rights of Non-Muslims in Islam
Many rights arise out of relationship among persons on sharing the same religion of Islam. In the same way some rights arise out of being members of humanity.
In other words a Muslim has to admit and recognize the rights of his fellow man although he may not be a Muslim. Such rights are:
1. No harm should be done to the life or property of any human being without a cause or justification.
2. Bad language should not be used in conversation with anyone without a sufficient cause which is permissible in the Shariah.
3. To help a non-Muslim with food, drink and medical treatment, if he is in distress, hungry or suffering from some disease.
4. If he deserves some punishment under the law of the Shariah no excess should be committed in that punishment nor should he be tortured.
Rights of Friends in Islam
In the Quran there is a mention of friends along with those and distant relatives. They have the following rights:
1. It is necessary to make a close observation of the beliefs, deeds, behaviour and dealings, conduct and character of those with whom one intends to make friends. If they are found right minded and righteous, they may be befriended, otherwise avoided.
Great emphasis has been laid on shunning bad society. Experience and observation also expose the harm of bad society. If one comes across a person of like habits, belief and character, there is no objection to befriending him, as it is recognized universally that a friend is the greatest source of comfort and solace.
2. Never hesitate in sacrificing for him even your life and wealth.
3. If something unpleasant comes from him connive at it. If some quarrel occurs by chance, settle it at once instead of prolonging it, because even temporary differences among friends have some pleasant aspects.
4. Do not be neglectful in wishing your friends well or in giving them good advice. Give ear to his advice with sincerity and accept it if it is practicable.
5. There is a custom in the Indian sub-continent of adopting someone as a son and conferring on him all the rights of a real son. In the Islamic Shariah an adopted son has doesn’t have rights equal to a real son; he has simply the rights of a friend. Such a one has no share in the heritage which is subject to definite laws and is not a matter of someone’s personal choice.
Rights of Neighbours in Islam
If the persons considered above, that is the common Muslims, acquire any other peculiarities, they become entitled to special rights. An example is the neighbour. He has the following rights:
1. Deal with him with goodness and leniency.
2. Protect the honour of his family.
3. From time to time send him and his family gifts. You must help him with some food, if they are reduced to starvation.
4. Do not cause him trouble and inconvenience, nor quarrel with him on small matters.
5. The laws of the Shariah allow him preference over others in matters of sale and purchase.
The learned men of Islam have said that there are two kinds of neighbours: the one who is living in your vicinity and the other with whom you happen to travel from the very start or come across him by chance during the journey.
In the Traditions the former has been called a permanent neighbour, and the other a temporary neighbour. They both are entitled to equal rights, which may be summarized as under:
- Prefer his comfort to your own instead of giving him trouble, as some passengers do during railway journeys. This is very bad, indeed.
Rights of Guests in Islam
Likewise the guests have the following rights:
1. To express feelings of joy and happiness on their arrival and on departure to see them off at least up to the door.
2. To arrange for their usual practices and requirements in order to provide them ease and comfort.
3. To behave with them with submission, respect and friendliness. To serve him personally.
4. At least for one day to entertain him with food of a moderately improved quality, such as may neither be obliging to the guest nor financially burdensome to the host, and host him at least for two days. This is the guest’s right.
5. As for stay for additional days, it is, however, not becoming for the guest to cause inconvenience to the host, neither by prolonging his stay nor by making undue demands, nor by interfering in the host’s scheme of entertainment.