Islam has greatly emphasized the maintaining of family ties. Good conduct with one’s relatives is known as Silat-ur-Rahim.

 

Numerous verses of the Qur’an, along with many Ahaadith, instruct us to show mercy, kindness, and care towards our parents and relatives.

Silat-ur-Rahim is one of the most beloved acts to Allah Ta‘ala. For this reason, Shaytan strives to sow enmity between relatives. By doing so, we distance ourselves from the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala and instead become deserving of His wrath.

Sadly, It is common to see siblings quarrelling, relatives usurping the wealth of one another, sisters being deprived of their rightful share in inheritance.

If we have been a cause of severing family ties , we should take the initiative to rectify the mistake and try our best to sincerely reconcile.

Our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has said, “The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.” This is just one of the consequences of severing ties of kinship.

Even if we are not guilty of severing ties of kinship, but rather it was a relative who wronged us , we should still try to reconnect.

This is because our Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The person who perfectly maintains the ties of kinship is not the one who does so because he is recompensed by his relatives (for being kind and good to them), but the one who truly maintains the bonds of kinship is the one who persists in doing so even though the other has severed the ties of kinship with him.” (Bukhari)

This Ramadan, let us make it a point to try and reconcile with all our relatives so that we can gain the great benefits that have been promised.

Abul-Laith (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) has said that ten rewards are promised for maintaining good family ties:

1) It wins the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala, who has ordered its fulfilment.
2) It promotes happiness among the family, and Rasulullah (ﷺ) has said that the best of deeds is to make a Muslim happy.
3) The angels also feel happy about it.
4)The Muslims praise the one who maintains it.
5) Shaytan is grieved by it.
6) It brings a long life.
7) It increases one’s livelihood.
8) It brings happiness to the deceased when they come to know about it.
9) It strengthens mutual support. When you do good to someone, he will help you wholeheartedly in your time of need.
10) One will benefit from it after his death, as the beneficiaries will always remember him with good wishes and du‘as.

May Allah Ta‘ala grant us the ability to uphold family ties and protect us from being among those who sever them. Ameen.