Loving one’s neighbor is not a matter of privilege but a divinely ordained duty. Even with the burden of a cantankerous neighbor, the Prophet once stated, “There is not to be any causing of harm, nor is there to be any reciprocating of harm.” This instruction demonstrates how accommodating God and His Prophet want us to be with regard to our neighbors

Hi Excellency Judge Bola Abdul Jabbar Ajibola, “The Concept of Loving Neighbor in the Qur’an and Hadith,” A Common Word p.120

As for the love of neighbor…Today, it cannot include for Muslims only Muslim neighbors, for Christians only Christian neighbors, or for Jews only Jewish neighbors. It must include followers of other religious communities, even nonreligious communities, and especially the nonhuman world. In fact, if Muslims and Christians, not to speak of other groups, do not extend their love of neighbor to the natural world, the consequences of the environmental crisis caused in fact by the lack of love of neighbor, in its larger reality, will make other efforts more or less irrelevant.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, “The Word of God: The Bridge Between Him, You, and Us,” A Common Word p.116-117

The sharing of wisdom should be an enactment of neighborly love.

Miroslav Volf, A Public Faith (2011)

There shall be no needy among you…If there is among you a needy person, one of your brethren, within any of your cities, in your land which Adonai your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy sibling; but you shall surely open your hand, shall surely lend sufficient for this one’s need…For the poor will never cease from the land. For this reason, God commands you, saying, “You shall surely open your hand to your siblings, to the poor and needy in your land.

Deuteronomy 15:4-12

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne

More and more it is borne upon me that we are all one, that we are our ‘brother’s keepers,’ that his sins are our own, and (more cheerful to contemplate), his good is our good

Sarah Pratt Carr (Unitarian, minister, community organizer)

Unitarian Universalist Assoc - Muslim Interfaith Guide

Here’s a useful PDF (you’ll be asked to download if you click the link) from the Unitarian Universalist Association to encourage UUs in being ever better interfaith community members and neighbors.

Dr. James Badawi, Islamic Business Ethics

You might know what the 5 pillars of Islam are. You might even have studied Islam further to appreciate and love your neighbor. But do you understand the grounding of Islamic Business Ethics? Fascinating offering here from Dr. James Badawi, and accessible to those of us who aren’t scholars. I’d recommend sharing it in small group studies and opening conversations about business ethics in general, and then engaging with your local Muslim communities about areas you can support together.

You Are Needed

You are needed for this world. Your spirit, your heart, your dreams of how wonderfully good this world can be — we need you. We need your songs and your dancing, your laughter and your whole-hearted self. We need you as is, no questions asked, because today is a new day, forgiveness is possible, mistakes are how we learn, and together we make a real and tangible difference.

We need you, just as you are, right here and right now. Your heart beats: you have something to give. You love: you are loveable. You dream of justice: so do we. Let’s get on with drawing this good old world further toward love and justice, mercy and hope. You have a part in this all, a good one, worthy and full of dignity, love, and joy.

Love, Equity, & Discrimination