Fatwa ID: 02846

Answered by:  Maulana Afzal Hussain

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

I have a question if you could please answer this for me. I have a neighbour who is a moulvi who is fluent in the Quran who is very religious.

When me and my family first moved into my house he seemed like a nice person he came and introduced himself and everything seemed ok.

Then after a few months me and my family started noticed whenever we talk in the house he repeats everything we say in a funny voice are walls are very thin we can hear him.

Then I started noticing where ever I go and park my car in front of my house he parks there, even though outside his house is empty.

so then I tried parking in a different side of the road then he goes and parks there even though the front of his house is empty you can tell straight away what he is doing he does this most of the time so it's not a coincidence.

also, he goes into the garden and makes silly sound with his voice.

I find it so strange a person so religious who has a lot of knowledge who people go to him for advice can do silly things if you can answer my question on what does Islam says.
 

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever listens to people’s conversations without their permission will have molten lead poured into his ears on the day of resurrection.” (At-Tabarani in Al-Kabeer)

If this person then goes and tells others of the conversation he overheard in order to cause trouble for them, then his sin of spying is compounded by another sin, as the Prophet said the eavesdropper will not enter paradise (Bukhari).

The Prophet regarded the praise or criticism of a neighbour as a major of a person’s goodness or badness. Ibn Masood reported that a man said to the prophet ‘O Messenger of Allah! How may I know if I am doing well or not? The prophet said ‘If you hear your neighbour say that you are good then you are doing well, and if you hear him saying that you are bad then you are not doing well.’ (Ahmad)

Abu Hurayra said, "The prophet was asked, Messenger of Allah! such and such a woman prays in the night fasts in the day, acts accordingly and gives charity, yet through her tongue, she hurts her neighbours. The Messenger of Allah said: There is no good in her. She is one of the people of the Fire. They said another woman prays the prescribed prayers, gives bits of curd as a charity and does not harm anyone. The Messenger of Allah said: She is one of the people of the Garden." (Adabul Mufrad: 119)

Duas for the protection from a bad neighbour:

1/ Abu Hurayra said, One of the supplication of the prophet was, "Allahumma Inni 'Auzubika Min Jaaris-sooyi fi Daaril Maqamah." (O Allah, I seek refuge with you from a bad neighbor in a permanent home.) (Adabul Mufrad: 117)

2/Allahumma Inni 'Auzubika min-yawmus-sooyi wa Min Laylatis-sooyi wa Min Sa'atis-sooyi wa Min Jaari-sooyi fi Daaril-Muqamah. (O Allah I seek Your protection from an evil day, evil night, evil hour and evil neighbor in my place of permanent residence.) (Hisnul Hasin, page: 279, Publisher: Darul Ishaat Karachi)

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Afzal Hussain

Checked and approved Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham