I want to talk about the rights of neighbors on us, in particular our elderly neighbors.
If you are living in a western country, or a country that has been affected by the corona virus and the government is saying to you that you have to stay indoors, or you don’t go to gatherings etc., then think about your neighbors.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us that angel Gabriel (peace be upon him) reminded him continuously to take care of the neighbors until he thought that Allah would make the neighbor inherit from him.
This is how important our neighbors are.
So if you have a neighbor who is elderly or sick, or maybe a single mom, bringing kids up, then please go see that neighbor and see if they need anything; make sure that they’re not sick, make sure they have enough food in their cupboards. Make sure that they have the medicaments, at least Paracetamol.
In the Quran, Allah emphasizes to do good and then He writes a list of the people who we should do good to and the close neighbors and the neighbors who are strangers:
Worship Allah alone and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbors, close friends, needy travellers, and those bonds people in your possession. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful— (4:36)
How amazing is this! So we are vicegerents on earth and we have a responsibility to the people around us as well as to our own selves and our own families.