Severing the Ties of Kinship- Importance of Kinship according to Quran and Hadith

The importance of kinship and keeping the ties of kinship is obvious from the teachings of Quran and Hadith. It is very important to maintain the ties of kinship in Islam. Allah does not like those who are severing the ties of kinship. In Holy Quran Allah Almighty says: “… and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship)…” (Quran, 4:1). This verse shows that maintaining ties of kinship is obligatory.

Allah (SWT) emphasizes Muslims to be kind and merciful with friends and family in all kinds of matters or dealings. By keeping good relation with friends and family we are supposed to maintain a positive social impact on society which in result leads to uniting Muslims together.

Allah Almighty has warned us against severing the ties of kinship. In Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says: “And those who break the Covenant of Allah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e., they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives), and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse (i.e., they will be far away from Allah’s Mercy); And for them is the unhappy (evil) home (i.e., Hell)” (Quran, 13:25). From this verse, we can conclude that such people deprive themselves of the great reward of maintaining ties of kinship in addition to the blessings that Allah places in their arrangement and lives.

Maintaining ties of kinship is the way to the security of the Muslim nation. Severing the ties of kinship is among the body sins and it is among the major sins. This is done by breaking the hearts of relatives by refusing to be good-hearted when they need you. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: “The one who severs the ties with the relatives will not be among the first to enter Paradise. Rather, this person will enter it after being tortured in Hellfire (i.e., if one dies as a Muslim).” (Al-Bukhari)

It is obligated on every Muslim to visit his or her relatives personally rather than through telephone or other modern means of communication, especially if they are in the same country or in the neighbor. But if they live far away, then one should strive to the best of his ability to keep in touch with them and utilize every means that is available to keep in touch. A person should be committed to that in order to receive the reward from Allah Almighty for keeping the ties of kinship.

Cutting the ties of kinship is a terrible thing in the sight of Allah (SWT).  Allah Almighty said in Holy Quran: “Would you then if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.” (Quran, 47:22-23)

Verses of the Holy Quran and different Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) call strongly for the upholding of kinship ties and encourage this by offering worldly and religious rewards.

Quranic Verses on Keeping Ties of Kinship

There are many verses in Holy Quran related to upholding ties of kinship. Some of them are given below:

• Allah Almighty says in Holy Quran: “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you” (Quran, 4:1). From this verse, we can say that we should not sever ties of kinship because Allah Almighty does not like those who do so.
• In another verse of Noble Quran Allah (SWT) says: “Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want and those who migrated in the path of Allah. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Indeed Allah is oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.” (Quran, 24:22)
• One must maintain ties of kinship and treat one’s family with kindness, even if that family does not treat you with kindness. Allah Almighty says in Holy Quran: “Surely all believers are brothers. So make peace between brothers and fear Allah that mercy may be shown to you.” (Quran 49: 10)

Hadiths of Prophet (PBUH) on Keeping Ties of Kinship

We can learn about keeping ties of kinship from the life of our beloved Prophet (SAW). We have various Hadiths on upholding ties of kinship some of them are mentioned below:

• “Allah, the Exalted, says: I am the Most Merciful, I created Ar-Rahim and I cut out a name for it from my name, so whoever keeps good ties with it, I will keep good ties with him, and whoever cuts it off, I will cut him and finish him off.” (Abu Dawud)
• “There is no sin that Allah more readily inflicts the punishment for in this life, in addition to what Allah keeps as punishment for the sinner in the Hereafter, than the sin of transgression and cutting off relations with relatives.” (At-Tirmidhi)
• “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain good relation with his kindred.” (Al-Bukhari)
• Keeping ties of kinship is a sign of faith. Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable to his guest, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain his kinship ties; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak well or remain silent.”(Al-Bukhari)
• It is a cause for increased blessings in one’s provisions and age. Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever loves to be granted ample provisions and a long life, should maintain good ties with his or her relatives.”(Al-Bukhari).
• “A Muslim is not allowed to abandon another Muslim brother for more than three days” (Sahih Bukhari)
• In another Hadith Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “Never hate each other, never be jealous of each other; never think ill of each other, never boycott each other, always remain brothers unto one another, Oh servants of Allah.” (Sahih Bukhari)
• Duas to be fulfilled. “A person’s dua will still be answered as long as his dua does not involve sin or breaking ties of kinship and so long as he does not become impatient” (Muslim)
• In another Hadith Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind” (Muslim)

In short, we should make good relation with our family and friends for making peaceful society to live in this world.  By keeping ties of kinship also get rewards and blessings of Allah Almighty in this world and hereafter too. May Allah give us the strength to keep good relations with our friends and family! Ameen