What rights do Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors have?
2026-10-13
F187 · Selected fatwas
Shaykh Ibn Bāz
الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز
Original Q&A · Full displayed answer
The complete answer organizes rights according to kinship, shared Islam and neighborliness. It expressly retains the non-Muslim neighbor’s right. It does not supply a separate ranking based on nationality or ethnicity.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
هل للجار من بني جنسي التفضيل على الجار المسلم الملاصق لداري؟ وهل لبني جنسي التفضيل وهم يسكنون بعيدين عنا على غيرهم من المسلمين في نفس الحي الذي نسكن فيه؟
الجواب
التفضيل بالقرابة والإسلام والجوار ثلاثة أنواع:
جار له ثلاثة حقوق وهو الجار المسلم ذو الرحم، فله حق الإسلام وحق الجوار وحق القرابة. وجار له حقان وهو الجار المسلم، أو القريب وليس مسلما، فله حق الإسلام وحق الجوار، أو حق الجوار والقرابة إن كان غير مسلم. وجار له حق واحد وهو الجار الكافر فله حق الجوار فقط. والله ولي التوفيق.
English translation
English rendering prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic answer. Not an official translation.
Original question
Should a neighbor from my own people be given preference over the Muslim neighbor immediately beside my home? Should people of my own background who live far away be given preference over other Muslims in the neighborhood where we live?
Answer
Preference based on kinship, Islam and neighborliness falls into three categories:
A neighbor with three rights is a Muslim neighbor who is also a relative: he has the right of Islam, the right of neighborliness and the right of kinship. A neighbor with two rights is a Muslim neighbor, or a relative who is not Muslim: he has the rights of Islam and neighborliness, or the rights of neighborliness and kinship if he is not Muslim. A neighbor with one right is a non-Muslim neighbor: he has the right of neighborliness alone. Allah is the One who grants success.
Source and editorial notes
Official Ibn Bāz website, fatwa 1862; website cites Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa-Maqālāt 6/493
الموقع الرسمي للشيخ ابن باز
Official website of Shaykh Ibn Baz
Arabic checked against the complete displayed answer on the official Ibn Baz page. Printed locator is the website’s own reference.