Kindness, Respect, and Sincerity: Comprehensive Human Responsibilities

“Worship Allah and do not join partners with Him. Treat your parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, close neighbors, distant neighbors, companions, travelers, and those you own.” Nisa Surah (4), 36 This verse provides believers with ten responsibilities. The first is to worship Allah, who has given humanity everything without withholding anything, and not to associate partners with Him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) described this responsibility in a hadith as “the right of Allah over His servants.” Secondly, it is to show respect to parents and fulfill filial duties towards them. The placement of the duty of parental respect immediately after the duty of worship should be carefully considered. Moreover, maintaining this order in other verses is also extremely meaningful. Thirdly, it is to protect and care for relatives and treat them kindly. The importance order mentioned above applies here as well. Relatives are those for whom we bear moral responsibility after parents. Helping someone unknown is counted as one good deed, while helping a relative is considered two good deeds. Fourthly, it is to support orphans. Extending a hand to orphans who have lost their guardians and caring for them is a humanitarian duty. Fifthly, it is to help the poor. Alleviating the suffering of those who lack the material means to meet their essential needs is a debt of gratitude that those who possess such means owe to Allah. Sixthly, it is to do good to close neighbors. Reaching out to those who live near us or are close neighbors, relatives, and fellow Muslims pleases Allah. This topic will be discussed in the following hadiths. Seventhly, it is to do good to distant neighbors. Our religion advises us to help even those who live far away, have no kinship ties, or are not Muslim. Eighthly, it is to help companions. Protecting and caring for schoolmates, artistic colleagues, travel companions, and even life partners is a commendable act of worship. Ninthly, it is to offer hospitality to travelers and guests. Helping those who cannot find the means to reach their homeland or destination and returning them to their homes is a beautiful good deed. Tenthly, it is to help those in need of care, such as slaves and servants. Those who have slaves and servants should consider them as their own brothers and sisters and as trusts from Allah, feeding them from what they eat and clothing them from what they wear. Hadiths 305. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Gabriel kept advising me to do good to my neighbors until I thought he would make them heirs.”