Kinfolks & Neighbors

The same general rights are legislated in Islamic jurisprudence for
women as are required for men. A concern for general public welfare
and mutual support of one another isa trademark of the Islamic social
system. The Prophet(Peace be upon Him) said:
"The similitude of the believers intheir mutual care, love and
kindness to one another is like one human body: if one organ aches,
this prompts the entire body to be feverish and remain awake."
[Muslim #2586]
And he (Peace be upon Him) said:
"The believers, one to another, are like a firm structure, supporting
one another." He thenintertwined his fingers.
[Bukhari #467 & Muslim #2585]
"A woman as an aunt, niece, cousin, or any type of relative,
regardless of the distance, is included in the kinfolk to whom Allah
commanded to be good, kind and supportive. Allah, the Exalted, states
in the Qur'an:
(Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the
land, and sever your ties of kinship?)
(47:22)
The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said:
"A person who severs his kinship ties, will never enter Jannah ."
[Muslim #2556]
And he (Peace be upon Him) said:
"Charity to a poor person is one charity, and to a (poor) relative two
charities: a charity and a connection of a relative."
[ Tirmidhi #658 & Ibn Majah#1844 and verified]
If a woman is a neighbor and sheis a Muslim, she is entitled to
tworights: the right of Islam, and theright of a neighbor. Allah, the
Exalted, states in the Qur'an:
(Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to
parents, kinfolk, orphans, the poor who beg, the neighbor who is
related to you, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your
side, the wayfarer you meet, and those slaves whom your right hand
possesses. Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is proud and
boastful)
[4:36]
Islam obligates a Muslim to be good to all his or her neighbors. The
Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said:
"Jibreel (Archangel Gabriel) continued to recommend me to take care of
the neighbor so much so that I thought the neighbor was going to be
made alegal heir."
[Bukhari #5668]
He (Peace be upon Him) also said:
"By Allah he is not a believer, by Allah he is not a believer, by
Allah he is not a believer!
They asked: "Who, O Messenger of Allah?"
He said: "The one from whose harm the neighbor is not safe."
[Bukhari 5670]
It is also reported by Asfahani in Hilyatul-Awliya that Talhah (may
Allah exalt their mention) said:
"Umar Ibn al-Khattab (may Allah exalt their mention) went out of his
home one night. I decided to follow him to see what he was doing
during the night. I saw himentering a certain house and after a while
I saw him come out and enter another house. In the morning I went to
the first houseand entered it to find out who lives there. To my
surprise I found an old, blind and disabled woman. I asked her: 'What
did the man, who came in your homelast night, want from you?'
She said: 'This man has been taking care of me for a time now,serving
my needs and helping meand supporting me.' Talha said tohimself: 'Why
should I investigateUmar's actions?
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said:
"The person caring for the widows and the poor is like the one who is
on the path of Allah, and as if he said: Like one who stands in prayer
without sitting down and like the one who fasts without breaking the
fast."
[Bukhari #5038 & Muslim #2982]
These are some distinguishing aspects of honoring, respecting, caring
for, and supporting women according to Islamic teachings that
summarize the rights of women. We believe thatwomen never witnessed
this extent of respect and honor throughout the history of mankind on
earth. Some traditions show that the Islamic law never tolerated
crimes or abuses against a woman during any stage of her life.