Upholding the ties of kinship is counted as one of the major characteristics of this religion, along with pure monotheistic belief in Allah, establishing prayer, and adherence to truthfulness and chastity, which were being explained to those questioners for the very first time.

In the lengthy hadith of Amr ibn Anbasah (RA) which includes many of the basic teachings of Islam, he said: “I visited the Prophet (SAW) in Makkah, and asked him, ‘What are you?’ He said, ‘A Prophet,’ I asked, ‘What is a Prophet?’ He said, ‘Allah has sent me.’ I asked, ‘With what has He sent you?’ He said, ‘He has sent me to uphold the ties of kinship, to break the idol and to teach that Allah is One and has no partner whatsoever.’” (Muslim)

In this summary of the most important principles of Islam, the Prophet (SAW) gave precedence to upholding the ties of kinship and mentioned it among the foremost features of the faith. This is indicative of its high status in the framework of this religion which Allah has revealed as a mercy to the world.

The sources of Islam go to great lengths to encourage upholding the ties of kinship and warn against cutting them off. Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RA) said: “A man said, ‘O’ Messenger of Allah, tell me of a good deed that will grant me entrance to Paradise.’ The Prophet said, ‘Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish regular prayer, pay zakah; and uphold the ties of kinship.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Upholding the ties of kinship appears in the same context as worshipping Allah, believing in His absolute unity, establishing regular prayer, and paying zakah. Hence it is one of the best of righteous deeds that will guarantee paradise and save one from Hell. Anas (RA) said: “The Prophet (SAW) said: ‘Whoever would like his rizq (provision) to be increased and his life to be extended, should uphold the ties of kinship.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)

So it is a blessing for the one who upholds the ties of kinship, a blessing which affects both his rizq and his life: his wealth will increase and he will live a longer and more blessed life. Ibn Umar used to say: “Whoever fears his Lord and upholds the ties of kinship, his life will be extended, his wealth will increase and his family will love him more.” (Bukhari)

As we have seen, upholding the ties of kinship brings blessing in a man’s rizq and his life, mercy from Allah in this world and the next, and makes people love him and praise him. In contrast, breaking those ties will spell disaster and misery for him, earning him the dislike of Allah and the people, and keeping him far from paradise in the hereafter. It is misery and deprivation enough for such a man to hear the words of the Prophet (SAW): “The person who breaks the ties of kinship will never enter paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Even worse for him is the news that his presence may deny mercy to his fellows, as in the hadith quoted by Al-Baihaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman: “Mercy will not descend upon a people among whom is one who breaks the ties of kinship.”

Hence the great Sahabi Abu Hurairah (RA) never liked to make supplication to Allah in a gathering in which a person who had broken the ties of kinship was present, because that would prevent mercy from descending and the du’a from being answered. In one Thursday night gathering, he said: “I urge everyone who has broken the ties of kinship to get up and leave us.” No one got up until he had said three times. Then a young man got up and went to see a paternal aunt of his home he had forsaken for two years. When he entered, she said, “O’ son of my brother, what brings you here?” He said, “I heard Abu Hurairah say such-and-such.” She told him, “Go back to him and ask him why did you say that?” Abu Hurairah said: “I heard the Prophet (SAW) say: ‘The deeds of the children of Adam are shown to Allah every Thursday evening before Jumu’ah, and the deeds of one who breaks the ties of kinship are not accepted.’” (Bukhari)

The sensitive Muslim who is hoping to earn the pleasure of his Lord and attain salvation in the Hereafter will be deeply shaken by the news given in this text, that breaking the ties of kinship will cause mercy to be withheld from him and his du’a not to be answered. It will be a source of great misery to him to be in such a position, to do deeds which are of no avail, to seek the mercy of his Lord and not receive it. It is unimaginable that a true Muslim would ever break the ties of kinship.

(To be continued)

by Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi