This questions is about the importance of Da’wah. I’ve always considered Da’wah as important but a Hadith was narrated to me without reference and now i can’t find the Hadith.
The Hadith states that the Prophet (PBUH) said we should or must do Da’wah to forty houses in each direction of the house we occupy.
Is this legitimate? What is the reference?
I live in England (UK) and forty houses may accompass many non-Muslim households.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
There is no Hadith that states “we should or must do da’wah to forty houses in each direction of the house we occupy”.
However, there is a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (radiyallaahu anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The rights of neighbours extend to forty homes. He then indicated to the right, left, back and front.” (Majma’ Al-Zawaaid, vol 8, pg 168, Qudsi / Musnad Abi Ya’la Al-Mawsili, vol 5, pg 368, Muassasah Uluum Al-Quran)
In another Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) explained that the forty homes refer to ten homes in each direction. (Sunan Al-Baihaqi, vol 6, pg 276, Dar Al-Baaz)
From the abovementioned narrations it is understood that the forty homes that surrounds the home one occupies are regarded as neighbors. Therefore, there rights as neighbors should be fulfilled.
عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حق الجار أربعون داراً هكذا وهكذا وهكذا يميناً وشمالاً وقدام وخلف (مجمع الزوائدمسند ابي يعلي الموصولي)
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال : أوصاني جبريل عليه السلام بالجار إلى أربعين دارا عشرة من ههنا وعشرة من ههنا وعشرة من ههنا وعشرة من ههنا قال إسماعيل عن يمينه وعن يساره وقباله وخلفه (سنن البيهقي الكبري)
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Talha Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah