Mohammed Ahmed, Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and national convener of “Campaign for Rights of Neighbours” in an interview with MOHD NAUSHAD KHAN said that the campaign has ended on 30 November but the vision and the mission of the campaign will go on. The campaign will prove significant and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the society and the nation. Excerpts:
What was the objective of ‘Neighbours’Rights’ campaign? Why did you feel it was necessary in the present situation?
The biggest weakness in today’s society is our attitude towards neighbours. Islam has given tremendous importance to neighbours, but in reality we have drifted far from these teachings. So the primary objective of the campaign was social reformation by highlighting the rights of neighbours. We wanted every person to feel responsible for the peace, comfort and safety of those living around them.
Today, fights, misunderstandings and bitterness with neighbours are common. People ignore their rights completely. So we said to ourselves, reform begins at home, and the first home beyond our door is our neighbourhood. When we began revisiting Qur’anic verses and Hadith, we saw immense guidance about neighbours. That became our foundation. Thus, the campaign was not just symbolic, it was a serious movement to restore human ties and revive forgotten Islamic values.
When you went to the ground and implemented the campaign, what was people’s response and what benefits did you observe?
We were uncertain initially about how neighbours would respond. But once we started spreading awareness, doors literally began opening. The response was beyond expectations; it felt like the voice of people’s hearts.
Many said the campaign should not end on the final day, but must continue permanently. This encouraged us to develop a follow-up plan. Our slogan was, “If our neighbours are not good, we will become good neighbours.”
Wherever our teams went, the public appreciated the message deeply. The enthusiasm of Jamaat cadre was remarkable. They weren’t waiting for instructions; they themselves spread handbills, visited houses enthusiastically, and created interactions. The feedback so far shows extraordinary acceptance, and the complete report will reflect this success in detail.
What short-term and long-term impact of this campaign do you anticipate?
In the short term, we focused on reviving everyday values: greeting each other with warmth, respecting each other’s temperament, and exchanging gifts. The Qur’an teaches that gifts strengthen the heart. And another key aspect was encouraging people to apologise when needed. Most people consider apology an insult, but Islam tells us that the one who apologises holds the higher rank. When this understanding spread, relationships improved dramatically.
In the long term, the goal is to build a happy, peaceful society. When neighbours fight, a person’s peace is destroyed even inside his home. But when there is love and respect, the same surroundings become a source of joy. So the true long-term impact we want is emotional well-being and collective harmony across society.
You travelled to many places during this campaign. What challenges did you notice and how do you plan to address them?
In the beginning, the biggest hesitation was what should we say when we approach our neighbours? But once we took the first step and received overwhelming positivity, that hesitation disappeared.Let me share an incident. In Raipur, we invited the sanitation workers. We hugged them, sat with them and fed them. Many of them cried and said, “We are called only to clean after big events. We are never treated with dignity.” For the first time they felt respect.
Similarly, we connected with newspaper hawkers, people who enter our homes every morning but rarely receive a smile. These experiences were repeated across India, proving that people are not cold, they are simply untouched by compassion. So challenges became opportunities once the first step was taken.
How was the response from women, children and youth during the campaign?
Every section was involved. Women’s Wing, GIO, SIO and even Children’s Circle actively participated. In Raipur, I saw children perform small skits teaching how to treat neighbours with kindness. It was heart-warming.
We even designed a day focused on national brotherhood, meeting people of other faiths and cultures. The biggest response came from those who live alone, elderly people, widows, bachelors, who often crave human connection. We realised they not only welcomed interaction but deeply needed it.
What are the long-term plans to sustain the spirit of this campaign?
For us this is not a one-time programme but a permanent responsibility. A follow-up structure is already in progress. Our organisational units will continually remind communities about neighbour rights, Qur’anic guidance and social etiquette. Reformation of society is an ongoing mission, and neighbours are the most important pillar of that mission.
Is there anything else you want to convey that we haven’t touched upon?
Yes, I have a humble request for the media. We have developed literature on neighbour rights. If every 1-3 months the media highlights this subject, society will receive great benefit. Media plays a massive role in shaping public thinking, if it chooses positivity, society transforms faster.
I also request Muslims to study the Qur’an and Hadith on neighbour rights. The Prophet ﷺsaid that Angel Jibreel reminded him of neighbours so repeatedly that he felt neighbours might even receive a share in inheritance. That shows their importance.
Would it be correct to say that this campaign aims to establish a peaceful society?
Absolutely, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has three core missions, and the first is establishing a peaceful society through reform. Peace is impossible without compassion at the neighbourhood level. So this campaign is central to our mission of peaceful coexistence.
Today hatred has entered even classrooms. Do you feel this campaign helps counter the environment of hate?
Definitely, hatred survives only when distance survives. When we meet and talk to neighbours, whether they are from our faith or another, walls begin to fall. This campaign created contact and conversation, the most powerful antidotes to hate. Our slogan also reflects this philosophy, “We will answer hatred with love.”
If we respond to hatred with love, they fail and society heals. Islam teaches that the true believer is one who can pray even for someone who abuses him. That is the height of character and the way to build a better world.
If every individual decides to fulfil the rights of their neighbours, love will replace hatred, dignity will replace humiliation, and peace will replace conflict. The campaign is not merely a programme, it is a transformation movement. And if society supports it, the reward will not only be spiritual, life in this world will also become beautiful.