Arabiq Online - Arabic of the Qur'an

Sūra al-Nisā' 4:36

Our 5th Qur’anic Arabic word is الْجَارُ : neighbour, which comes from the root جَاوَرَ: to be neighbourly, to protect, and give refuge. It occurs 3 times in the Qur’an, two of which are in aya 36 of Sūra al-Nisāʾ where Allah lists the categories of people we have to be extra kind to:

وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا

“Worship Allah and do not ascribe any partners to Him, and be good to parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the near neighbour and the distant neighbour, the companion at your side, the traveller, and your slaves. Indeed Allah does not like those who are arrogant and boastful.”

It’s interesting that the Qur’an mentions 2 types of neighbours: الْجَارِ ذي الْقُرْبَى  (the near neighbour) and الجَارِ الْجُنُبِ (the distant neighbour). So what’s the difference between these two types of neighbours and why does the Qur’an distinguish between them?

الْجَارِ ذي الْقُرْبَى  is  the neighbour who lives close by, right next door,  people who know our comings-and-goings, and who may trespass on our property, block our driveway or be annoying with their noise and babies crying. They deserve extra kindness from us.

And الْجَارِ الْجُنُب is the neighbour that we’re unacquainted with, the guy across the street we don’t know, the old lady with lots of cats and dogs, the stranger. But they’re still our neighbours and for that reason, they deserve good treatment and kindness from us. How amazing that the Qur’an takes care of everyone!