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Maintaining Ties of Kinship: The Forgotten Obligation* |
Blood relations — like a brother or a sister, parental or maternal uncle, cousins, and all your kindred have the right to kinship each in accordance with his or her nearness. Almighty Allah says,
(And give to the kindred his due.]
(Al-Israa' 17 : 26)
(Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk]
(An-Nisaa' 4:36)
Relatives have to maintain good ties and extend social and financial support in accordance with the relative exigencies and nearness of kinship. It is an injunction dictated by canonical laws, reason, and human nature.
Texts from the Qur'an and the Sunnah emphasize the necessity of cementing kindred ties and maintaining them.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Prophet Muhammad (peace be blessings be upon him) as saying:
"Allah created His creation, and when He had finished it, ties of kinship got up and said, 'I seek refuge with You from those who sever the ties of kith and kin.' On that Allah said, 'Will you be satisfied if I bestow My favors on those who keep you, and withhold My favors from those who sever you?' On that ties of kinship said, 'Yes.' Then Allah said, 'So, be it.' " [Abu Hurairah] said, "If you wish, you can recite:
(If you were given authority, would you then do mischief in the land and sever your ties of kinship?] (Muhammad 47:22)
The Prophet (peace be blessings be upon him) also said,
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain good relations with his kindred." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Unfortunately, many people have neglected this right and no longer discharge their obligations — whether material, social, or moral — toward their kin. Months on end could pass without even paying relations a visit or gaining their favor with a present. Moreover, it has become a habit that some people find it difficult to even try to satisfy a certain need or ward off a misfortune that happens to befall their relatives.
Some people behave differently. They maintain good ties as long as their kindred do the same, but otherwise they sever these ties. Real cherishing of blood relation is not observed in anticipation of equal reaction on the part of one's kin; the ties should be maintained for Allah's sake only, maybe this is done from one side only while neglecting the behavior of the other side in its return. `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`Aas quoted the Prophet as saying,
"Al-Wasil (one who maintains good relation with his kinship) is not the one who recompenses the good done to him by his relatives, but Al-Wasil is the one who keeps good relations with relatives who have severed the bond of kinship with him." (Al-Bukhari)
Maintaining good ties with one's kindred is bound to earn Allah's mercy, affluence, and deliverance from distress, in addition to amity, attachment, and spirit of cooperation that will envelop the whole atmosphere of the family in prosperity and in adversity. It goes without saying that severance of kinship ties melts away all these benefits and sows the fruit of discord among relatives.
Related Links:
Excerpted with some modifications from
http://www.iad.org/Islam/rkin.html
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