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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتاب صلة الرحم
Book of Maintaining Ties of Kinship
بَابُ فَضْلِ صِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ
Chapter: Virtue of Maintaining Ties of Kinship
Al-Adab al-Mufrad 52 — Virtue of Maintaining Ties of Kinship
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: أَتَى رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنَّ لِي قَرَابَةً أَصِلُهُمْ وَيَقْطَعُونَ، وَأُحْسِنُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَيُسِيئُونَ إِلَيَّ، وَيَجْهَلُونَ عَلَيَّ وَأَحْلُمُ عَنْهُمْ، قَالَ: ”لَئِنْ كَانَ كَمَا تَقُولُ كَأَنَّمَا تُسِفُّهُمُ الْمَلَّ، وَلاَ يَزَالُ مَعَكَ مِنَ اللهِ ظَهِيرٌ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا دُمْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have some relatives with whom I maintain ties, while they sever relations with me. I treat them well, and they treat me badly. They behave ignorantly towards me, yet I act with patience and forbearance. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), after hearing this, said: "If it is as you say, then you are putting dust in their mouths, meaning they themselves will be humiliated, and as long as you remain steadfast in your conduct, Allah’s help will continue to be with you."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ True maintaining of kinship ties (silah rahmi) is to bring close those relatives who have severed relations. Returning kindness for kindness is indeed a good deed, but it is merely reciprocation. To show good conduct to those who behave badly requires courage and a strong heart, and only truly great people do so.
➋ “You are putting dust in their mouths” means that by doing good to them, you are compelling them to reflect on their own behavior. In this way, by comparing their conduct with your good treatment, they will themselves feel ashamed and humiliated.
➌ In order to attain Allah’s help and support, one should do good to relatives. And, disregarding their ignorant behavior, one should continue to treat them well.
➊ True maintaining of kinship ties (silah rahmi) is to bring close those relatives who have severed relations. Returning kindness for kindness is indeed a good deed, but it is merely reciprocation. To show good conduct to those who behave badly requires courage and a strong heart, and only truly great people do so.
➋ “You are putting dust in their mouths” means that by doing good to them, you are compelling them to reflect on their own behavior. In this way, by comparing their conduct with your good treatment, they will themselves feel ashamed and humiliated.
➌ In order to attain Allah’s help and support, one should do good to relatives. And, disregarding their ignorant behavior, one should continue to treat them well.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 52
