Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami (رحمه الله)
«باب صلة الأخ المشرك»
Maintaining ties of kinship with a polytheist sibling
It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) once saw a striped silk garment being sold at the door of the mosque and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Why don’t you buy this and wear it on Fridays and when delegations come to you?”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied:
“This is worn only by one who has no share in the Hereafter.”
Later, some silk garments were gifted to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he gave one of them to ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه). So ʿUmar said:
“O Messenger of Allah! You are giving me this garment, even though you said what you said about the garment of ʿAṭṭārid?”
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“I did not give it to you to wear.”
So, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) gave the garment to his brother in Makkah, who was a mushrik (polytheist).
In a version reported by al-Bukhārī, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“I did not give it to you to wear, but so that you may sell it or give it to someone else to wear.”
[Agreed upon: Mālik in Kitāb al-Libās 18; al-Bukhārī 886; Muslim 2068]
✔ Maintaining ties of kinship with non-Muslim relatives is not only permissible but also a noble act, especially when done with the intention of good conduct and daʿwah.
✔ Showing kindness, offering gifts, and honoring familial bonds do not necessitate acceptance of their beliefs, but reflect the ethical excellence of Islam.
✔ Even a Companion like ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) maintained ties with his polytheist brother — an example of true Islamic character and balanced interaction with non-Muslim relatives.
❖ Chapter:
«باب صلة الأخ المشرك»
Maintaining ties of kinship with a polytheist sibling
It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) once saw a striped silk garment being sold at the door of the mosque and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Why don’t you buy this and wear it on Fridays and when delegations come to you?”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied:
“This is worn only by one who has no share in the Hereafter.”
Later, some silk garments were gifted to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he gave one of them to ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه). So ʿUmar said:
“O Messenger of Allah! You are giving me this garment, even though you said what you said about the garment of ʿAṭṭārid?”
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“I did not give it to you to wear.”
So, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) gave the garment to his brother in Makkah, who was a mushrik (polytheist).
In a version reported by al-Bukhārī, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“I did not give it to you to wear, but so that you may sell it or give it to someone else to wear.”
[Agreed upon: Mālik in Kitāb al-Libās 18; al-Bukhārī 886; Muslim 2068]
✿ Lessons from the Hadith:
✔ Maintaining ties of kinship with non-Muslim relatives is not only permissible but also a noble act, especially when done with the intention of good conduct and daʿwah.
✔ Showing kindness, offering gifts, and honoring familial bonds do not necessitate acceptance of their beliefs, but reflect the ethical excellence of Islam.
✔ Even a Companion like ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) maintained ties with his polytheist brother — an example of true Islamic character and balanced interaction with non-Muslim relatives.
