Thirty or thirty-five years ago, writes Sharif Uddin Peshawar in Desh Rupantor, a bottle gourd from someone's vine went to relatives, a good catch of fish went to the neighbours, and ripe fruit and the cow's milk were shared with those close by. People now have more money and more buying power, he says, but that easy culture of sharing is fading because we put our own needs and comfort first.
Yet the Prophet (peace be upon him) told Muslims not to forget their neighbours. In a hadith narrated by Abu Dharr, he said that when you cook a stew you should add more broth and give some of it to your neighbour (Sahih Muslim 2625).
In another, he said that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honour his neighbour (Sahih al-Bukhari 6019). He also told neighbours not to look down on even a small gift sent by a neighbour (Sahih al-Bukhari 2566).
In the Quran, Allah commands justice, good conduct and giving to relatives (Surah An-Nahl 16:90). Verse 22 of Surah An-Nur tells those with wealth and means not to swear to withhold from relatives, the needy and those who emigrated in the cause of Allah, but to pardon and overlook.
If a little of our wealth cannot bring a smile to a relative, be shared with a neighbour or help someone in trouble, the writer asks, what is that abundance worth? He urges readers to look back to the days when a single gourd, a few fish or some fruit could build a bridge of affection between people.
Photo: Salim Khandoker / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Desh Rupantor
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