– Bibi Sinin
Eric Hoffer once said, “It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one’s neighbour.” This quote highlights a simple truth: people often claim to “love everyone” or “care for humanity,” yet they struggle to show kindness, patience, or understanding to the people living closest to them i.e. their neighbours.
A neighbour is a real person. They may be noisy, difficult, different from us, or have habits we dislike. Loving a real person requires effort, tolerance, empathy, and patience.
For example, someone may donate generously to charity, but the same person might fight with their next-door neighbour over parking, noise, or petty misunderstandings. We often say we “love our neighbours,” but do we really show care, understanding, or patience toward them?
When we talk about neighbours, it does not only mean the people living next door. Everyone around us is our neighbour – the people we meet while walking, travelling, studying, or working: colleagues, teachers, classmates, shopkeepers, sanitary workers, friends, and even strangers. Sadly, we often show a lack of civic sense. For example, many people dispose of garbage or sanitary pads incorrectly, making the work of sanitary workers harder and unsafe. We do this because we think only about ourselves. The real reason behind this behaviour is the lack of empathy. If we start putting ourselves in others’ shoes, we will understand their struggles and develop compassion. If we begin to view everyone as our neighbour deserving respect, dignity, and kindness we can create a world where empathy becomes natural, not rare.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said. “He is not a believer whose neighbour is not safe from his harm.”
A true believer, and a true human being, will never harm their neighbour, regardless of their religion, caste, community, status, or nationality. We must create an atmosphere where every person feels safe, valued, and respected.
Why are we surrounded by conflicts, wars, and misunderstandings? Because everyone wants safety for themselves, but not everyone contributes to creating a safe environment for others. We want a peaceful world, yet we fail to build peace in our own surroundings.
In difficult times, it is often our neighbours and the people around us who become our greatest support.
When we fall sick, meet with an accident, or even feel lost, it is usually those nearby who rush to help before anyone else arrives. Neighbours may share food during hardships, offer comfort in emergencies, and stand by us when our own family may be far away. These moments remind us that kindness from the people living around us can become a lifeline, and that a strong, caring neighbourhood truly makes life safer and more beautiful.
Change begins with small actions. A smile, a polite greeting, helping an elderly couple with their bags, offering your seat to a woman in the bus: these simple acts of kindness create a chain of goodness. A peaceful and united community starts with one kind neighbour. True goodness begins at home with our families, our neighbours, and the people we meet every day. If we cannot be kind to those around us, our love for “humanity” remains only words, not real action.
[The writer, a student of BA Psychology (2nd year), is a member of GIO Zuarinagar, Panjim, Goa]
