Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Maintaining ties of kinship (silat ar-rahm) is obligatory, and Allah Almighty has cursed those who sever ties of kinship (qat‘ ar-rahm). The statement of Allah Almighty is:
“It is expected of you that if you gain authority in the land, you will spread corruption therein and sever your ties of kinship.
These are the ones upon whom Allah has cursed, made them deaf, and blinded their eyes.” ()
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Al-Adab, Hadith: 4902)
Severing ties of kinship is a very grave sin. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“There is no sin more deserving that Allah hasten its punishment in this world, along with what He has stored for it in the Hereafter, than oppression and severing ties of kinship.”
(2)
Whoever commits severing of kinship considering it to be lawful (halal) exits the fold of Islam and will never enter Paradise. And whoever commits it considering it to be unlawful (haram) will not be among those fortunate ones who enter Paradise at the very beginning.
And Allah knows best.

Takhrij:
[بخاري 5984، مسلم/البر والصلة 18]
[تحفته الاشرف411/2]

Benefits:
➊ In the Noble Qur’an, there is a warning of curse for those who sever ties of kinship and cause corruption on earth:
«وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّـهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ» [13-الرعد:25]
“And those who sever what Allah has commanded to be joined.”
And He said:
«فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَن تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ ٭ أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّـهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَى أَبْصَارَهُمْ» [47-محمد:22]
“So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your ties of kinship? Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He made them deaf and blinded their eyes.”

➋ Which kinship is meant by maintaining ties of kinship (silat ar-rahm)? The reality is that there are several levels of kinship.
The first is that there is such a relationship between two people that mutual marriage becomes unlawful (haram) between them, meaning if one is a man and the other a woman, marriage between them is not permissible. For example: paternal uncle, paternal aunt and their nephew; maternal uncle, maternal aunt and their nephew—this is such a close relationship that if both relatives are considered women, it is not permissible to marry them to one man at the same time. For example, it is forbidden to marry a woman and her paternal aunt, or a woman and her maternal aunt, to one man like two sisters, because this poses a risk of severing ties of kinship. As for those relatives between whom marriage is permissible, such as a man and the children of his paternal uncle, paternal aunt, maternal uncle, or maternal aunt, between them is not that most delicate kinship which is severed by being joined in one marriage or by divorce or annulment.
The second is that they become heirs to one another. It is clear that the kinship which entitles one to inheritance is not the same as that which does not; otherwise, Allah would have made the latter heirs as well.
The third is that kinship is established for any other reason besides these two. Among all these, the greatest right is that of the mother, then the father, and then, according to rank, other relatives, that they should be treated with ties of kinship. And although maintaining ties of kinship is the right of all relatives, the right increases according to degree.

➌ The minimum level of maintaining ties of kinship is that mutual greetings and conversation continue; if even this does not remain, then what kind of kinship is left? After this, inquiring about the condition of relatives, helping them with wealth and life, and forgiving their mistakes are various forms of maintaining ties of kinship.

➍ The type of maintaining ties of kinship that Allah, the Exalted, wants from us has been explained by the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam:
«ليس الواصل بالمكافئ، ولكن الواصل الذى إذا قطعت رحمه وصلها» [صحيح بخاري 5991]
“The one who maintains ties of kinship is not the one who merely reciprocates, but the true maintainer of ties is the one who, when his kinship is severed, joins it.”

➎ There are three levels of conduct with relatives:
Silat ar-rahm (maintaining ties of kinship): If relatives sever relations, then one should join them and treat them well.
Reciprocation: If relatives treat one well, then one treats them well in return.
Severing ties of kinship: Severing relations with relatives, whether due to their bad treatment or even if they treat one well but one still severs ties—in any case, if one treats them badly after they have treated one well and breaks off relations, this is the worst form of severing ties. If both sides sever relations, then the worst is the one who initiates the severance.

➏ It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu that a man said: “I have some relatives with whom I maintain ties, but they sever relations with me; I do good to them, but they do bad to me; I am patient with them, but they act ignorantly towards me.” So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«ان كنت كما قلت فكانما تسفهم المل ولا يزال معك من الله ظهير عليهم ما دمت على ذلك» [صحيح مسلم 6525]
“If it is as you say, then it is as if you are putting hot ashes in their mouths, and as long as you remain upon this, there will always be a helper from Allah against them with you.” [مسلم 6525]

➐ The meaning of “The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise” is that the person who, after hearing the commands of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that severing ties of kinship is forbidden, still considers it lawful (halal), will never enter Paradise, because whoever considers what Allah has forbidden to be lawful is no longer a Muslim.
And the one who does not consider it lawful, but rather considers it forbidden, yet commits this sin for some reason, will not be among those fortunate ones who enter Paradise at the very beginning. This meaning is explained because the believers who commit major sins will not remain in Hell forever.

Takhrij:
«أخرجه البخاري، الأدب، باب إثم القاطع، حديث:5984، ومسلم، البر والصلة، باب صلة الرحم وتحريم قطيعتها، حديث:2556.»©Explanation:
➊ In this hadith, the consequence of severing ties of kinship (qat‘ al-rahm) is warned about, that such a person will not enter Paradise.
➋ Severing ties of kinship (qat‘ al-rahm) is a major sin (kabirah).
And the meaning of not entering Paradise is that the perpetrator of this crime will not enter Paradise immediately, rather, after bearing the punishment for this sin, he will enter Paradise.
Or it means that the one who commits this crime is indeed deserving of this punishment, except if the mercy of Allah covers him.
And Allah knows best.