Part 5 Maintaining Ties of Kinship

From those actions which Allah has commanded us to do to keep our society in order is maintaining family ties. To live with love and unity, to share each other’s happiness and sadness, to be good towards them, if they are in need of financial assistance to help them: All of this comes under maintaining ties of kinship.

To be absent in their time of need, to deal with them harshly, not to give them support at difficult times, to stop talking to them: All this is cutting ties of kinship. Islam has empathised good character and strong relationships in order for society to function with peace and prosperity.

1) Narrated Anas bin Malik:

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "Whoever desires an expansion in his sustenance and age, should keep good relations with his Kith and kin."

‎صحیح بخاری، باب من احب البسط فی الرزق، رقم الحدیث2067

2) Narrated Abu Ayub:

A man said to the Prophet (ﷺ) "Tell me of such a deed as will make me enter Paradise." The people said, "What is the matter with him? What is the matter with him?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He has something to ask. (What he needs greatly) The Prophet (ﷺ) said: (In order to enter Paradise) you should worship Allah and do not ascribe any partners to Him, offer prayer perfectly, pay the Zakat and keep good relations with your Kith and kin."

‎صحیح بخاری، باب وجوب الزکاۃ، حدیث 1396

3) Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should unite the bond of kinship (i.e. keep good relation with his kith and kin);

‎صحیح بخاری، باب اکرام الضیف و خدمتہ ایاہ بنفسہ، حدیث 6138

4) A person from Bani- Khasam asked Nabi (as) in the presence of the sahaba ‘Are you the true messenger of God’? Nabi ﷺ replied ‘Yes I am the true messenger of God’. He then asked what is the most beloved action in the sight of Allah. Nabi (as) replied to bring complete faith in Allah. He requested Nabi (as) to add to that, Nabi (as) said ‘To maintain ties of kinship’

‎مسند ابو یعلیٰ، حدیث 6839

5) Narrated Jabir Bin Abdullah:

We were sat together when Nabi (as) arrived and said “O Muslims fear Allah and maintain ties of kinship, the reward of this action is quickly accepted… (At the end of the hadith) The fragrance of paradise can be smelt One thousand years away (distance) but the person who cuts ties with his family will not be able to smell this.

‎المعجم الاوسط للطبرانی،حدیث 5664

6) Narrated Abu Huraira:

Nabi (as) said “A person who has these three qualities in him, will have an easy reckoning (on Qiyamah) and Allah will grant him a place in paradise through his mercy. The sahaba (ra) asked what are those three qualities O messenger of Allah? To which Nabi (as) replied ‘ give to the person who deprives you, forgive the one who oppresses you and maintain ties with one who cuts ties with you: Allah shall grant you a place in Paradise.

‎مجمع الزوائد، باب صلۃ الرحم وان قطعت، حدیث 13473

The Quran and Ahadith are clear on this topic, how unfortunate that the Muslims of today have become distant from the teachings of Nabi (as). Brothers have stopped talking to brothers, sisters to sisters. For petty reasons we cut ties with close family. We stop visiting on occasions of happiness and sadness. We should make an effort to maintain family ties in light of the Quran and Sunnah.

Wasalam

Muhhamad Ilyas Ghumman

Pakistan Masjid, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Thursday 2nd March 2017

Translated by Mawlana Yousaf Baig