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Fatwa CenterThe definition of the neighbor in Islam
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I have one question about muslims and neighbors. In hadiths, the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, told us to treat our neighbours well. But who does that include? Only the houses next to you or, if u live in a small community with many apartments, are all those then considered neigbors? Some muslims think that its only obligatory to help close neighbors and not all muslims who need help. May Allah reward you for your help.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Muslim jurists elaborately discussed the perimeter for one’s neighborhood and who exactly is to be labeled a “neighbor” as per the sharee'ah after reaching a consensus over the rights of the neighbor. Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar 
wrote:
“The Muslim scholars differed regarding the perimeter for neighborhood; ʻAli 
said, 'Whoever is able to hear the athaan of the neighborhood mosque is a neighbor; it was also said that whoever performs the Fajr prayer with you in the mosque is your neighbor.' It was narrated on the authority of ʻAa’ishah that the perimeter for one’s neighborhood is forty houses in each direction. Al-Awzaaʻi cited a similar report to the same effect. Al-Bukhari cited a similar narration in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad on the authority of Al-Hasan. At-Tabaraani, as well, cited a similar marfoo’ hadeeth on the authority of Kaʻab ibn Maalik, but its chain of narration is weak. It reads, 'Verily, forty houses are neighbors.’ Ibn Wahb narrated on the authority of Yoonus on the authority of Ibn Shihaab that the perimeter for one’s neighborhood is forty houses on his right, on his left, in the back, and in the front. This is a possible understanding; and it may also be divided differently, meaning ten in each direction...” [Fat-h Al-Baari]
The Kuwaiti Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence reads:
"The Shaafiʻis and Hanbalis held that the perimeter for neighborhood is forty houses on each side. They relied on the hadeeth reported by Abu Hurayrah in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, said, ‘The rights of a neighbor are due for (the residents of) forty houses as such, such and such,’ pointing in these directions.
The Maalikis, on the other hand, maintained that the perimeter for neighborhood is the neighbor living next door in one of the directions or on opposite sides of a narrow street with no barrier, like a big market, a wide river, or the like, separating the two houses. They also held that the neighbors may also be those who pray in the same mosque or two one nearby mosques unless the perimeter for neighborhood is already set otherwise according to the custom of people in any given community. They interpreted the hadeeth regarding the forty houses in terms of the due brotherly treatment, respect, and hospitality such as withholding harm, warding off harm, smiling, and offering gifts.”
Abu Haneefah and Zufar held that the neighbor is the one living next door only, because the Arabic word for neighbor (jaar) denotes physical proximity (mujaawarah). The view of Abu Haneefah and Zufar is the standard.
The hadeeth suggesting that the perimeter for neighborhood is forty houses has been classified as weak by a group of hadeeth scholars. Based on the opinion suggesting the weakness of the hadeeth, the perimeter for neighborhood is left to be decided according to the custom of a given community; whoever is labeled as one’s neighbor according to the custom of a given community is a neighbor (and is, accordingly, entitled to the due rights for the a neighbor in Islam).
Ibn Qudaamah commented on the hadeeth after citing it, saying, “Even if the hadeeth is not authentic, the term neighbor denotes (physical) proximity; and the perimeter for neighborhood is decided according to the custom of people.” [Al-Mughni]
Az-Zarqaani said, “In brief, a neighbor has levels: first, adjacency (physical proximity); second, mingling as is the case when people share the same mosque, gathering place, group of houses, and of course the due rights of neighbors in Islam are much more emphasized for the Muslim neighbors.” [Sharh Al-Muwatta’]
Allaah Knows best.
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