Joining the Ties of Kinship - Islamic Network

18/10/2012 03:07

The Islamic Network - www.islaam.net

Thursday, 2 Dhu 'l-Hijjah 1433 AH / 18th October 2012 CE

Joining the Ties of Kinship

by 'Al Abd-ur-Rahmn al-Hudhaif
All praise is due to Allh, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and
companions. Fellow Muslims! Fear Allh and be dutiful to Him. Return rights to their due owners, Allh will give you great
reward and will save you from painful torments.
Dear brethren! Know that your Lord, out of His mercy, explains everything to you in His Book. His Messenger Muhammad,
blessings and peace be upon him, has also guided you to the right path that will lead you to Paradise, save you from Hell
and make you attain the happiness of this world. He explained to you the rights of Allh upon His slaves, for the rights of
Allh upon us are the greatest of those things that He has made obligatory for us. However, Allh requests us to perform
only those things that we are able to. It is Allh's right upon us that He should be remembered and not be forgotten,
obeyed and not disobeyed, and thanked for all His favours. This will make our life peaceful and blessed, under the
shadow of His mercy, free from afflictions. Our life will be full of cooperation and love.
Allh also explains for us the rights of the parents, the rights of the kith and kin and the obligations of the relatives to one
another. Each person will be held accountable on this in this world and the Hereafter. If one fulfils these rights one will
attain great degrees with Allh. If one fails to fulfil these rights one will earn the wrath of Allh. Brethren in faith! Joining
the tie of kinship is one of the greatest responsibilities of man. The kith and kin are the ones with whom one has blood or
marriage relationship. Allh emphasises the importance of the kith and kin in many places in His Book. He says,
"And give to the kindred his due and to the poor and to the
wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a
spendthrift." (Al-Isr 17:26)
Allh mentions joining the tie of kinship after He mentions the fear of Him. He says,
"Fear Allh through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and
(do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allh is
Ever an All-Watcher over you." (An-Nis 4:1)
It is the because of the importance of joining the tie of kinship and the fact that it is a fundamental element of morality and
virtue that Allh made it obligatory for nations that were before us. Allh says,
"And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of
Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allh (Alone) and be dutiful and
good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and the poor, and
speak good to people (i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid evil,
and say the truth about Muhammad (peace be upon him)) and
perform As-Salt (Iqmat-as-Salt), and give Zakt." (Al-Baqarah
2:83)
In a hadth reported by Al-Bukhr on the authority of 'Abdullh Ibn Salm, the first statement that Allh's Messenger
made when he entered Al-Madnah was,
"O you people! Spread salm, give food [to the hungry], be kind to the kith and kin and pray [in the middle
of the night] while people are sleep, you are enter the Paradise of your Lord with peace."
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Joining the Ties of Kinship - Islamic Network

18/10/2012 03:07

Being kind to the kith and kin brings urgent reward in this world, in addition to the reward of the Hereafter. Ab Hurayrah
said, "I heard the Messenger of Allh say: 'He who wants his wealth increased and his life prolonged should be kind to his
kith and kin." (Al-Bukhr) The Messenger of Allh also said,
"Let him who wants his life prolonged, his wealth increased and wants evil death kept away from him fear
Allh and be kind to his kith and kin." (Al-Hkim and Al-Bazzr)
Ibn 'Abbs narrated that Allh's Messenger said, "Allh gives long life to some people in their abode and increases
them in wealth, though He does not look at them once since He created because of His dislike for them." The
companions asked, "Messenger of Allh, how is that?" He answered, "It is because they join the ties of kinship." (AlHkim and At-Tabarn) Allh's Messenger also said,
"No sin deserves immediate punishment in this world in addition to the punishment of the Hereafter than
severing the ties of kinship." (Ibn Mjah and At-Tirmidh)
Dear brethren! Being kind to the kith and kin brings peace of mind, increases mutual love among relatives and makes life
blessed. The Muslim is required to be kind to his kith and kin even if they are doing the opposite to him. Ab Dharr said,
"My friend [the Prophet] advised me to do certain things: He commanded me not to look at those who are above me [in
worldly materials], that I should rather look at those who are below me; he commanded me to be kind to the kith and kin
even if they do the opposite to me; and he commanded me not to fear the blame of any critic in [my worship of] Allh."
(Ahmad and Ibn Hibbn)

Ab Hurayrah narrated that a man said,

"O Messenger of Allh, I have relatives with whom I try to have close relationship, but they sever (this
relation). I treat them well, but they treat me ill. I am sweet to them but they are harsh towards me. Upon
this the Prophet said: If it is so as you say, then you in fact throw hot ashes (upon their faces) and there
would always remain with you from Allh (an Angel to support you) who would keep you dominant over
them so long as you adhere to this (path of righteousness)."
Ibn 'Umar narrated that the Prophet said,
"The one who reciprocates the good done to him by a relative is not the one who joins the tie of kinship.
He is rather the one, when his relatives treat him badly he treats them well." (Al-Bukhr)
Severing the ties of kinship is a curse in this world. It causes evil, depression, people's hatred especially the relatives,
misery in this world and a painful torment in the Last Day. Ab Hurayrah narrated that Allh's Messenger said,
Allah created His creation, and when He had finished it, the womb, got up and caught hold of Allh
whereupon Allh said, "What is the matter?' On that, it 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 favours on him who keeps
your ties, and withhold My favours from him who severs your ties?' On that it said, 'Yes, O my Lord!' Then
Allah said, 'That is for you." Abu Hurayrah added: If you wish, you can recite: "Would you then if you were
given the authority. do mischief in the land and sever your ties of kinship." (Al-Bukhr and Muslim)
Ab Hurayrah also narrated that Allh's Messenger said,
"On every Thursday in the eve of Friday, deeds of human are presented to Allh. The deeds of any person
who severs the ties of kinship will not be accepted." (Ahmad)
Al-A'mash said,

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Joining the Ties of Kinship - Islamic Network

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"Ibn Mas'd was sitting down in company of a group after Fajr prayer one morning. He then said, "I implore every severer
of the tie of kinship to leave this gathering of ours, for we want to supplicate to our Lord. The doors of the heaven are
closed against those who sever the tie of kinship." (At-Tabarn)

The Messenger of Allh said,

"Three people shall not enter Paradise. They are: "The alcoholic, the severer of the tie of kinship and the
believer in sorcery." (Ahmad)
Fellow Muslims! Joining the tie of kinship means being generous to them, desisting from harming them, visiting their sick,
supporting the poor among them, guiding the errant, teaching the ignorant and visiting them frequently. It also includes
sharing in their joy and sadness, protecting them in their absence, respecting the elderly among them, being
compassionate with the young ones, bearing their mistreatment with patience, relating with them in the best manner and
wishing them well.
Brethren in faith! Severing the ties of kinship has become commonplace these days and the hearts of many people has
been corrupted. This is caused by many people's avarice for the dishonourable materials of this world. Blessed is
therefore, be the one who considers the consequences of things, fulfils the rights due upon him, looks up to Allh for his
rights that the people owe him and deals with others as he would like to be dealt with.
Severing the tie of kinship can become deep-rooted that the children inherit it from their parents, thereby causing a lot of
evil, destruction, aggression and enmity. Bad relation can also persist among members of the same family until death
separates among them. It is then that they will regret and be saddened by what they have done while it will be too late.
Their only place of meeting will be the Day of Resurrection when Allh will judge among them.
Dear brethren! Patience, tolerance and forgiveness are the best of all conducts. They are also the best remedy for the
sorrow caused by relatives. 'Uqbah Ibn 'mir narrated, "I met the Allh's Messenger and I held his hand and said, "O
Messenger of Allh, tell me about virtuous deeds." He said, "
'Uqbah, join the tie of kinship with your relative who seeks to sever it, give to him who denies to give to
you and turn away from [or forgive] him who wrongs you." (Ahmad and Al-Hkim)
Fellow Muslims! The woman may be a cause of severance of ties of kinship through tales that she carries about,
shortcomings that she spreads, good things that she conceals and troubles she causes among men. In her folly, she
might think that doing so is in her interest and she might drive her children into mistreating their relatives. She shall bear
the sin of this.
On the other hand, she can be a cause for strengthening relationship and love among relatives through her patience, her
well wishing for her husband and children and her nurturing of her children upon righteousness. Allh will strengthen such
a woman, put her affairs aright and bless her with good ending. Dear Muslim women! Fear Allh and promote peace
among the relatives. Do not let the tie of kinship be severed at your hands, for nothing you do is hidden from Allh. Allh
says,
"So give to the kindred his due, and to Al-Miskn (the poor) and to
the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek Allh's Countenance;
and it is they who will be successful." (Ar-Rm 30:38)
Brethren in Islm! Fear Allh and respect the commandments of Allh by implementing them. Respect His prohibitions by
abstaining from them.
"And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allh.
Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not
be dealt with unjustly." (Al-Baqarah 2:281)

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Perform righteous deeds against the abode of the Hereafter whose bliss is everlasting and whose dwellers will never die.
Be afraid of Hell whose fuel is men and rock and whose punishment is severe. Its depth is intense. The food of its
dwellers shall be from Zaqqom, their drink shall be of purulent water and their garments shall be of liquid pitch and steel.
Dear brethren! There are deeds that Allh ordained to be done in the night which He would not accept if done in the day
and there deeds that He ordained to be done in the day which He would not accept if done in the night. It is the deeds of
human that determine that reward or punishment. Allh says,
"Whosoever does a good deed, it is for his own self, and
whosoever does evil, it is against (his own self). Then to your Lord
you will be made to return." (Al-Jthiyah 45:15)
In a Quds hadth, the Prophet narrated that Allh says,
"O My slaves! These are your deeds which I accurately recorded for you. Let him who finds good [results
thereof] thank Allh and praise Him, and let him who finds otherwise not blame but himself."
Fellow Muslims! Remember a Day when records of deeds will be distributed and in which some will receive their record
with their right hand and some with their left. Allh is unjust with His slaves.
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