FRIDAY FOCUS: When will Friday khutbahs address neighbours’ rights?
A Challenge to the Conscience of the Neighbour, the Masjid Pulpit and the Mohalla Committee
Dr Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
Imagine a mother who has spent hours trying to soothe her newborn baby. She rocks the infant gently, whispers lullabies, and patiently waits for sleep to arrive. Finally, the child drifts into peaceful rest. Suddenly, a barrage of deafening firecrackers explodes outside. Loud wedding music shakes the neighbourhood. The baby wakes up screaming. The exhausted mother begins the struggle all over again. A few houses away, an elderly cancer patient, after a night of pain and discomfort, has finally managed to fall asleep. The relentless “chakaar,” blaring loudspeakers, RJ’s voice, and explosive fireworks rob the patient of precious rest. Elsewhere, students preparing for examinations lose concentration. Elderly residents spend another sleepless night. Working people who must rise early for their livelihoods stare at the ceiling until dawn.
One simple question deserves an honest answer: Is this celebration or is it a neighbour’s suffering? A wedding is undoubtedly a joyous occasion. Families come together, friendships are renewed, and a new chapter of life begins. Islam does not oppose celebration. Culture does not oppose celebration. Society does not oppose celebration. What is unacceptable, however, is the belief that celebration grants unlimited freedom to disturb others. The happiness of one household cannot be purchased at the expense of an entire neighbourhood.Yet this is precisely what happens in many communities. Weddings increasingly become competitions of volume rather than occasions of gratitude. The louder the music, the bigger the fireworks and the longer the disturbance, the greater the perceived prestige.But prestige built upon the discomfort of others is not honour. It is selfishness.
Islam places extraordinary emphasis upon the rights of neighbours. The Holy Qur’an states: “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour and the distant neighbour…” (Qur’an) Notice the significance. Immediately after commanding worship of Allah, the Qur’an reminds believers of their social responsibilities, including the rights of neighbours. The Prophet Muhammad saw elevated this obligation even further. In a powerful hadith, he declared: “By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! “When the Companions asked whom he meant, the Prophet SAW replied: “The one whose neighbour is not safe from his harm.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)This is among the strongest warnings found in Islamic teachings. The issue is not merely good manners. It is a matter of faith, character, and accountability.
The fundamental Islamic principle of La darar wa la dirar teaches: Neither cause harm nor reciprocate harm. Unfortunately, many people recite these teachings, display them on social media, and quote them in conversations, yet abandon them in practice when it comes to their own conduct. This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question. Why do we hear countless Friday sermons about distant issues while remaining silent about the daily suffering unfolding outside the mosque gates? Where are the khutbahs that address wedding-season noise pollution? Where are the reminders about the rights of patients, children, and elderly neighbours? Where are the sermons condemning reckless firecracker use, all-night disturbances, and behaviour that deprives entire communities of rest? If Islam speaks so clearly about neighbourly rights, why do our mosque pulpits so often avoid discussing violations of those rights? Religious guidance must be measured not merely by what is preached, but by what is practised. A sermon that inspires no behavioural change risks becoming a weekly ritual rather than a source of moral transformation. The responsibility, however, does not rest solely with imams. This is equally a challenge for our mohalla committees, resident associations, community elders and local representatives. What purpose do these institutions serve if they remain silent when avoidable disputes repeatedly disturb neighbourhood peace?
A proactive mohalla and/or masjid committee, MUM, can establish community standards, encourage dialogue, educate residents, and prevent conflicts before they escalate. It can remind families that celebrations have limits and that rights come with responsibilities. Unfortunately, many committees emerge only when conflict erupts rather than working to prevent it in the first place. Neighbourly responsibility extends far beyond wedding noise. A good neighbour is one who does not become a source of unnecessary hardship for others. Neighbours have a responsibility to keep noise levels reasonable, particularly during late hours. Firecrackers should be used only within lawful and safe limits. Waste should be disposed of properly in covered bins rather than left exposed.
Food waste should not be scattered in public places. Stray animals (esp. dogs)may be fed compassionately, but this must be done responsibly, hygienically, and without creating inconvenience for nearby residents. Compassion toward animals is a virtue; creating health hazards for people is not. Likewise, gates and walls should be secured, broken fences repaired and damaged pathways reported. Open drains, unsafe walkways and neglected public spaces may seem like somebody else’s problem until they cause injury to a child, an elderly resident or a pedestrian.
Good citizenship and good neighbourliness share a common foundation: consideration for others. When problems arise, Islam also teaches restraint and wisdom. Complaints should be raised respectfully. Abuse, humiliation, threats and revenge have no place in civilised conduct. Where disturbances continue, residents should document incidents, maintain records and approach the relevant authorities through lawful channels. Rights are best protected through evidence, dialogue and responsible civic engagement. Before increasing the volume of a loudspeaker, before lighting a string of explosive firecrackers and before extending celebrations deep into the night, every family should pause and ask three simple questions: What if the crying baby were my child? What if the cancer patient were my father or mother? What if I were the exhausted neighbour desperately waiting for sleep? Empathy often succeeds where regulations fail. The true measure of a good neighbour is not how lavishly they celebrate, how enthusiastically they entertain guests or how frequently they speak about religion. The true measure is whether those living around them feel safe, respected, and at peace. Our communities do not need louder celebrations. They need stronger consciences. From sleepless infants and cancer patients to students and working families, neighbourhood disturbances are often dismissed as harmless celebrations. Yet Islam places the rights of neighbours at the heart of faith. The real question is not whether we celebrate, but whether our celebrations come at the cost of others’ peace, dignity, and well-being.
Let our weddings spread happiness without spreading misery. Let our mosque pulpits teach neighbourly rights with the same passion with which they teach ritual obligations. Let our mohalla and/or masjid committees become guardians of community harmony rather than silent spectators. Above all, let us remember that neighbourly rights are not optional courtesies. They are moral responsibilities and, in Islam, a matter of faith itself. For in the end, a neighbour should be a blessing, not a burden; a source of comfort, not discomfort; and a reason for peace, not complaint.
May Allah Almighty guide us to fulfil the rights of our neighbours, protect the vulnerable from avoidable suffering, and make our communities places of peace, compassion, dignity and mutual respect. Ameen.
(STRAIGHT TALK COMMUNICATIONS EXCLUSIVE. The author is a physician, having a postgraduate degree in Islamic sciences, and an independent Sr. columnist who writes regularly on ethics, faith, character, and the social values that strengthen individuals, families, and communities. He can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com.)
