Adab al-Mufrad

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Some sins are so grave that their punishment is meted out both in this world and in the Hereafter, and severing ties of kinship (qat‘ al-rahm) is among such sins. It is such a major sin that its effects become apparent very quickly, and its greatest harm—which a person faces as soon as the fourth day after severing ties—is the breaking of the servant’s connection with Allah and being distanced from His mercy. May Allah protect us from it.

➋ From this narration, it is also understood that Allah Ta‘ala does not immediately punish every sin with His mercy, perhaps so that His servant may repent. Therefore, if a sin is committed, one should strive to repent immediately. A person can neither bear the punishment of sins in this world nor will he have the strength to do so in the Hereafter; thus, one should ask Allah Ta‘ala for forgiveness and pardon, and practically strive to avoid sins.

➌ One should know the causes that lead to severing ties of kinship and then strive to avoid them. Some of these causes are as follows:
- Giving preference to one’s own emotions and not caring about the feelings of others leads to severing ties of kinship.
- Interfering in the personal lives of relatives.
- A person lacking the strength to tolerate quickly ends relationships.
- Excessive jesting and mockery.
- Complaints about one another to a third person.
- Greed for worldly things or the desire to be superior also sometimes becomes a cause for severing ties of kinship.
- The desire to remain prosperous oneself and being unable to tolerate the prosperity of others.