Emphasis on maintaining relationships with relatives (Silat-ur-Rahim) and the consequences of severing ties (Qat’ ur-Rahim) in the light of Quran and Hadith
Verse number ➊
وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّـهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ ٭ وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَـئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
Translation: “And those who endure patiently, seeking the countenance of their Lord, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them secretly and publicly, and prevent evil with good—those will have the good consequence of [this] home.”
Verse number ➋
فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ * أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّـهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَى أَبْصَارَهُمْ
Translation: “(O hypocrites!) Are you not amazed that if you gain power, you cause corruption in the land and sever ties with your relatives? Those are the ones upon whom Allah has cursed, and He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.”
Verse number ➌
وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ٭ Those who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth—those are the losers. (2-Al-Baqarah: 26, 27)
Translation: “From it (Allah) leads many astray and guides many, and He only leads astray the disobedient who break Allah’s covenant after it has been firmly established and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e., kinship ties) and cause corruption on earth; those are the ones who suffer loss.”
Hadith number ➊
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
ابغض الأعمال إلى اللہ الاشراك باللہ، ثم قطيعة الرحم
Translation: “The worst deed in the sight of Allah is associating partners with the Lord of the worlds, then breaking the ties of kinship.”
Hadith Number ➋
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
إن الله خلق الخلق حتي إذا فرغ من خلقه قالت الرحم : هذا مقام العائذ بك من القطيعة، قال : نعم، أما ترضين أن أصل من وصلك وأقطع من قطعك ؟ قالت : بلي يا رب۔ قال : فهو لك۔ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : فاقرئوا إن شئتم ”فهل عسيتم إن توليتم أن تفسدوا فى الأرض وتقطعوا أرحامكم“
Allah Almighty created the creation, and when He finished, kinship and maintaining ties stood up and said: Yes! This is the position of the one who seeks Your protection from being cut off. Allah Almighty said: Are you not pleased that whoever connects with you, I will also connect with him, and whoever cuts you off, I will also cut off from him? Maintaining ties said: I am pleased with that. Allah Almighty said: I have given you this status. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: If you wish, recite in confirmation of this: فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ
… “And it is not for you to cause corruption in the land after its reformation, and to sever the ties of kinship.”
Hadith Number ➌
ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليصل رحمه
(The Prophet ﷺ said:) “Whoever believes in Allah and the Hereafter should maintain the ties of kinship.”
Hadith Number ➍
من أحب أن يبسط له فى رزقه، وينسأ له فى أثره، فليصل رحمه
(The Prophet ﷺ said:) Whoever wishes that his provision be expanded and his life be prolonged should uphold the ties of kinship with his relatives.
Hadith Number ➎
Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) said that a man asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ replied: تعبد الله لا تشرك به شيئا، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصل الرحم “Worship Allah sincerely alone, associate none with Him, establish prayer, give zakat, and maintain the ties of kinship.”
Hadith Number ➏
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه that the Messenger صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ما من ذنب أجدر أن يعجل الله لصاحبه العقوبة فى الدنيا مع ما يدخر له فى الآخرة من البغي، وقطيعة الرحم
“There is no sin whose doer is more deserving of punishment in this world and will also be punished in the Hereafter except for oppression and severing of kinship.”
Hadith Number ➐
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah says that I heard the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
إن أعمال بني آدم تعرض كل خميس ليلة الجمعة، فلا يقبل عمل قاطع رحم
“The deeds of the children of Adam are presented to Allah on Thursday evening and Friday, and Allah does not accept any deed from the one who severs kinship.”
Hadith Number ➑
Umm al-Mu’mineen Sayyida Aisha رضي الله تعالى عنها says that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
الرحم معلقة بالعرش تقول : من وصلني وصله الله، ومن قطعني قطعه الله
“Kinship is suspended from the Throne of Allah, and it calls out, ‘Whoever maintains me, Allah will maintain him, and whoever severs me, Allah will sever him.'”
Hadith Number ➒
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لا يدخل الجنة قاطع رحم
“One who severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.”
Hadith Number ➓
ليس الواصل بالمكافئ، ولكن الواصل الذى إذا قطعت رحمه وصلها
“The one who maintains kinship is not the one who reciprocates maintaining kinship, but the real maintaining of kinship is when someone cuts off ties and he restores them.”
O Allah, make us among those who maintain kinship and protect us from severing ties. Indeed, the ability to do good and the strength to avoid sin are granted only by You. O Allah, save us from the Fire, for indeed, whoever is saved from the Fire is successful.
