Love thy Neighbor - Christ's
Answer to Religion
Love thy neighbor was, in part, Jesus' answer when the Pharisees,
the chief religious sect of that day, asked
Him about the greatest commandment in the Law (See Matthew
22:36-40). These religious leaders had made almost an art form of
classifying all the various laws and giving them relative degrees
of importance, so in asking Jesus this question, their aim was to
test Him. His answer stunned them: Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets
hang on these two
commandments. Rights of Neighbors
There is a hadith (saying) of Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, that goes as follows:
"Do you know what the rights of neighbors
are?" asked the noble Prophet. And he went on to give a list:
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Help him if he asks for your help
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Give him relief if he seeks your relief
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Lend him if he needs a loan
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Show him concern if he is distressed
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Nurse him when he is ill
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Attend his funeral when he dies
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Congratulate him if he meets any good
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Sympathize with him if any calamity
befalls him
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Do not block his air by raising your
building high without his permission
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Harass him not
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Give him a share when you buy fruits,
and if you do not give him, bring what you buy quietly and
let not your children take them out to excite the jealousy
of his children."
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