Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (رحمہ اللہ)
✿ عن ابي ايوب الانصاري رضى الله عنه ان رجلا قال: يا رسول الله اخبرني بعمل يدخلني الجنة، فقال القوم: ما له ما له، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ارب ما له، فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: تعبد الله لا تشرك به شيئا، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصل الرحم ذرها قال: كانه كان على راحلته.» [متفق عليه: رواه بخاري 5983، ومسلم 13: 13.]
Translation: Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that a man asked, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise." The people said, "What is wrong with him? What is wrong with him?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He has no issue; he is asking a question." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) addressed the man: "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish prayer, give zakat, and maintain family ties." Then he said, "Now let him go with his camel." The narrator added, "It seemed the Prophet (ﷺ) was mounted on his camel at the time."
2. Prophet’s Emphasis on Family Relations During Illness
✿ «عن أنس أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال فى مرضه ارحامكم ارحامكم» [حسن: رواه ابن حبان فى صحيحه 436.]
Translation: Anas (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said during his illness: "Take care of your family ties, take care of your family ties."
3. Maintaining Ties Brings Prosperity and Avoids Poverty
✿ «عن أبى بكرة أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن أعجل الطاعة ثوابا صلة الرحم حتي إن أهل البيت ليكونوا فجرة فتنمو أموالهم ويكثر عددهم إذا تواصلوا، وما من أهل بيتي يتواصلون فيحتاجون.» [حسن: رواه ابن حبان فى صحيحه 440.]
Translation: Abu Bakrah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The act of obedience for which the reward comes most quickly is maintaining family ties. Even if the people of a household are sinful, their wealth increases, and their numbers grow when they maintain family ties. No household that maintains family ties will face poverty."
4. The Immediate Rewards of Maintaining Ties and the Consequences of Breaking Them
✿ «عن أبى هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أعجل الطاعة ثوابا صلة الرحم وإن أهل البيت ليكونون فجارا فتنمو اموالهم ويكثر عددهم إذا وصوا ارحامهم وإن أعجل المعصية عقوبة البغي والخيانة واليمين الغموس تذهب المال وتقل فى الرحم وتذر الديار بلاقع.» [حسن: رواه الطبراني فى الأوسط – مجمع البحرين 2108.]
Translation: Abu Hurairah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The act of obedience for which the reward comes most quickly is maintaining family ties. Even if the people of a household are sinful, their wealth grows, and their numbers increase when they maintain family ties. The sin for which punishment comes most quickly is transgression, betrayal, and taking a false oath intentionally. These sins destroy wealth, diminish family bonds, and leave the land desolate."
Chapter: The Virtue of Maintaining Family Ties and the Warning Against Breaking Them
Hadiths on the Importance of Family Ties
1. Maintaining Family Ties as a Path to Paradise✿ عن ابي ايوب الانصاري رضى الله عنه ان رجلا قال: يا رسول الله اخبرني بعمل يدخلني الجنة، فقال القوم: ما له ما له، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ارب ما له، فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: تعبد الله لا تشرك به شيئا، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصل الرحم ذرها قال: كانه كان على راحلته.» [متفق عليه: رواه بخاري 5983، ومسلم 13: 13.]
Translation: Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that a man asked, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise." The people said, "What is wrong with him? What is wrong with him?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He has no issue; he is asking a question." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) addressed the man: "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish prayer, give zakat, and maintain family ties." Then he said, "Now let him go with his camel." The narrator added, "It seemed the Prophet (ﷺ) was mounted on his camel at the time."
2. Prophet’s Emphasis on Family Relations During Illness
✿ «عن أنس أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال فى مرضه ارحامكم ارحامكم» [حسن: رواه ابن حبان فى صحيحه 436.]
Translation: Anas (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said during his illness: "Take care of your family ties, take care of your family ties."
3. Maintaining Ties Brings Prosperity and Avoids Poverty
✿ «عن أبى بكرة أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن أعجل الطاعة ثوابا صلة الرحم حتي إن أهل البيت ليكونوا فجرة فتنمو أموالهم ويكثر عددهم إذا تواصلوا، وما من أهل بيتي يتواصلون فيحتاجون.» [حسن: رواه ابن حبان فى صحيحه 440.]
Translation: Abu Bakrah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The act of obedience for which the reward comes most quickly is maintaining family ties. Even if the people of a household are sinful, their wealth increases, and their numbers grow when they maintain family ties. No household that maintains family ties will face poverty."
4. The Immediate Rewards of Maintaining Ties and the Consequences of Breaking Them
✿ «عن أبى هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أعجل الطاعة ثوابا صلة الرحم وإن أهل البيت ليكونون فجارا فتنمو اموالهم ويكثر عددهم إذا وصوا ارحامهم وإن أعجل المعصية عقوبة البغي والخيانة واليمين الغموس تذهب المال وتقل فى الرحم وتذر الديار بلاقع.» [حسن: رواه الطبراني فى الأوسط – مجمع البحرين 2108.]
Translation: Abu Hurairah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The act of obedience for which the reward comes most quickly is maintaining family ties. Even if the people of a household are sinful, their wealth grows, and their numbers increase when they maintain family ties. The sin for which punishment comes most quickly is transgression, betrayal, and taking a false oath intentionally. These sins destroy wealth, diminish family bonds, and leave the land desolate."
Key Lessons from the Hadiths
- Maintaining Family Ties Leads to Paradise:
- Acts of worship, such as maintaining family ties, are directly linked to earning Allah’s pleasure and entering Paradise.
- Immediate Rewards for Kindness to Relatives:
- Those who maintain family ties experience growth in wealth, numbers, and blessings, even if they are otherwise sinful.
- The Dangers of Severing Ties:
- Breaking family relationships results in spiritual, social, and economic harm. It diminishes blessings, creates division, and brings about Allah’s displeasure.
- Comprehensive Teachings of Islam:
- Islam not only emphasizes individual worship like prayer and zakat but also encourages social responsibilities, especially toward family, as a core component of faith.