Importance and Virtues of Maintaining Family Ties in Islam

Source​

Khutbāt of Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid
Compiled by: Tawḥīd.com

This article discusses the importance, virtues, and rewards of Ṣilah Raḥmī (maintaining family ties) and the harms of abandoning it (Qaṭʿ Raḥmī). In the light of clear Qur’ānic verses and authentic sayings of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it clarifies that after parents, the greatest emphasis in the rights of people is placed upon the rights of relatives.
The article elaborates on the meaning of Ṣilah Raḥmī, its Sharʿī status, its worldly and Hereafter benefits, and the severe consequences of severing family ties, so that every Muslim may correct and strengthen family relations in accordance with the pleasure of Allah Almighty.

Meaning of Ṣilah Raḥmī​

The word Ṣilah encompasses all good manners, such as:
◈ Meeting with a pleasant face
◈ Greeting with salām
◈ Speaking gently
◈ Forgiving faults
◈ Adopting humility and modesty
◈ Showing good conduct
◈ Providing financial assistance

The word Raḥm refers to blood relations, meaning all relatives connected through lineage, whether they are heirs or not, maḥram or non-maḥram.

From this clarification, it becomes evident that Ṣilah Raḥmī means showing kindness to relatives and exercising patience and forgiveness in response to their ill-treatment.

Emphasis on Ṣilah Raḥmī in the Qur’an​

Allah Almighty repeatedly commands the observance of family ties in the Qur’an.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ﴾

Reference: an-Nisāʾ: 4:1

Translation:
“And fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual rights, and [fear] the ties of kinship.”

This verse contains a strong emphasis on fulfilling the rights of relatives and treating them with kindness.

Allah Almighty also says:

﴿وَاعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَى﴾

Reference: an-Nisāʾ: 4:36

Translation:
“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents and to relatives.”

Likewise, He says:

﴿وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللّٰهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَى﴾

Reference: al-Baqarah: 2:83

Translation:
“And when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel that you would worship none but Allah, and show kindness to parents and to close relatives.”

These verses clearly show that after the right of Allah, the greatest rights are those of parents, followed by relatives.

Command to Help Relatives​

Allah Almighty says:

﴿إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى﴾

Reference: an-Naḥl: 16:90

Translation:
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives.”

And He says:

﴿وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَى حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ﴾

Reference: Banī Isrāʾīl: 17:26

Translation:
“And give the relative his due, and [also] the poor and the traveler.”

These verses prove that financial and moral assistance to relatives is an explicit command of Allah Almighty.

Ṣilah Raḥmī — A Quality of the Intellectually Upright​

Allah Almighty says:

﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ﴾

Reference: ar-Raʿd: 13:21

Translation:
“And those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined.”

This verse indicates that maintaining family ties is a prominent sign of intelligent and righteous people.

Virtues of Ṣilah Raḥmī​

① Expansion of Sustenance and Blessing in Life​

Narrated by Anas رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ ))

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5986

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2557

Translation:
“Whoever wishes that his provision be expanded and his life be prolonged should maintain family ties.”

This ḥadīth shows that Ṣilah Raḥmī is a means of increase in sustenance and blessing in life. Some scholars explain that the increase in life refers to being granted ability to perform righteous deeds, thereby making life blessed.

Reference: Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim by al-Nawawī: 9/450

② A Means of Attaining Allah’s Mercy​

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( إِنَّ الرَّحِمَ شَجْنَةٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ… ))

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5988

Translation:
“Kinship is derived from the Most Merciful. Allah says: Whoever maintains you, I shall maintain him; and whoever cuts you off, I shall cut him off.”

③ Love Within the Family​

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( تَعَلَّمُوا مِنْ أَنْسَابِكُمْ مَا تَصِلُونَ بِهِ أَرْحَامَكُمْ… ))

Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 1979

Translation:
“Learn your lineage so that you may maintain family ties, for maintaining family ties creates love among relatives, increases wealth, and delays death.”

④ Ṣilah Raḥmī Is a Sign of Faith​

(( وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ ))

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6138

Translation:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must maintain family ties.”

⑤ A Deed That Leads to Paradise​

(( تَعْبُدُ اللّٰهَ لَا تُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا… وَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ ))

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5983

Translation:
“Worship Allah without associating anything with Him, establish prayer, give zakāh, and maintain family ties.”

Conclusion​

It can be stated with complete certainty that Ṣilah Raḥmī is a demand of faith, a part of Prophetic character, and a foundation of Islamic society. In contrast, severing family ties leads to Allah’s curse and displeasure, causes humiliation, hardship, and deprivation in this world, and may result in severe punishment in the Hereafter.

Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim to rectify family relationships, remove grudges from the heart, adopt forgiveness and forbearance, and continue financial and moral support according to one’s ability.

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to understand the true reality of Ṣilah Raḥmī, act upon it, and remain protected from severing family ties. Āmīn.