2. Ties of Kinship

2. Ties of Kinship

Chapter 25. The Duty of maintaining ties of kinship

47. Kulayb ibn Manfa’a reported that his grandfather asked, “Messenger of Allah, towards whom should I be dutiful?” He replied, “Your mother, your father, your sister and your brother. Then your mawla (client) has the next right against you and then your relatives who are connected.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

Chapter 26. Maintaining ties of kinship

50. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah Almighty created creation. When He had finished it, ties of kinship rose up. Allah said, ‘Stop!’ They said, ‘This is the place for anyone seeking refuge with You from being cut off’ Allah said, ‘Are you not content that I should maintain connections with the one who maintains connection with you and I should cut off the one who cuts you off?’ It replied, ‘Yes indeed, my Lord.’ He said, ‘You have that.'”
Then Abu Hurayra said, “If you wish, you can recite, ‘Is it not likely that, if you did turn away, you would cause corruption in the earth and sever your ties of kinship? ‘ (47:22)”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth is evidence that kinship spoke in the real sense, by Allah’s leave, and that it gets angry and becomes pleased. It is also evidence that speech is from the Action-related Attributes of Allah the Mighty and Exalted. Severing the ties of kinship brings about Allah’s wrath on the offender – and with Allah is the refuge.

48. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari told him that a bedouin came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was travelling. He asked, “Tell me what will bring me near to the Garden and keep me far from the Fire.” He replied, “Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, perform the prayer, pay zakat, and maintain ties of kinship.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: (1) The hadeeth orders maintaining ties with the near relatives without restricting it to the Muslims among them alone. The Prophetﷺ would quickly act upon the instructions of the Qur’aan and give admonitions employing methods that depicted the importance of what he said. (2) The hadeeth forms evidence that the Muslim could still relate himself to his fathers: grand-fathers, great grand-fathers and further above, whether they were Muslims or not for the verse reffered to some of the non-Muslim grand parents of the Messengerﷺ and mentioned them as his near relatives. (3) Everyone is enjoined to hasten towards acting upon good deeds and not depend on nor take pride in family ties. Connecting family ties is emphasized in the hadeeth.

49. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari told him that a bedouin came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was travelling. He asked, “Tell me what will bring me near to the Garden and keep me far from the Fire.” He replied, “Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, perform the prayer, pay zakat, and maintain ties of kinship.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth exhorts towards asking the scholars about what will bring one towards the Paradise and keep one away from the Fire. It warns against destroying one’s acts of devotion with association of partners with Allah. Ibn Abee Hamzah said, “If they are non-Muslims and evil doers, disconnecting relations with them for the sake of Allah is the way to maintain ties with them on the condition that efforts will be made to admonish them. It will also be made known to them that that is due to their keeping away from the truth. Even at that, one will still supplicate for them in their absence that they should return to the right path.”

51. Ibn ‘Abbas spoke about the ayat, “Give your relatives their due, and the very poor and travellersÉ” (17:26), and said, “He begins by commanding the most pressing of the obligatory dues and He directs us to the best action if we have any money. He says: ‘Give your relatives their due, and the very poor and travellers.’ He also teaches us what we can say if we have nothing. He says, ‘But if you do turn away from them, seeking the mercy you hope for from your Lord, then speak to them with words that bring them ease’ (17:28) in the form of an excellent promise. Things are as they are, but they might change if Allah wills. ‘Do not keep your hand chained to your neck’ and not give anything, ‘but do not extend it either to its full extent’ and give all you have, ‘so that you sit there blamed’ as those who come to you later and find you have nothing will blame you, ‘and destitute.’ (17:29)” He said, “The person to whom you have given everything has made you destitute.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

Chapter 27. The excellence of maintaining ties of kinship

52. Abu Hurayra said, “A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘Messenger of Allah! I have relatives with whom I maintain ties while they cut me off. I am good to them while they are bad to me. They behave foolishly towards me while I am forbearing towards them.’ The Prophet said, ‘If things are as you said, it is as if you were putting hot ashes on them and you will not lack a supporter against them from Allah as long as you continue to do that.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth teaches that one should always evaluate his conduct with his kith and kin and make apprioprate amends. In some cases one would need to endure negative dispositions from them and not reply evil with its kind. The narration shows that such endurance earns one support from Allah the most High.

53.‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn ‘Awf heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, said, ‘I am the Merciful (ar-Rahman). I have created ties of kinship and derives a name for it from My Name. If anyone maintains ties of kinship, I maintain connection with him, and I shall cut off anyone who cuts them off.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

54. Abu’l-‘Anbas said, “I visited ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr at al-Waht (some land of his in Ta’if). He said, ‘The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, pointed his finger towards us and said, “Kinship (rahim) us derived from the All-Merciful (Rahman). When someone maintains the connections of ties of kinship, they maintain connection with him. If someone cuts them off, they cut him off. They will have an unfettered, eloquent tongue on the Day of Rising.”‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

55. ‘A’isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Kinship (rahim) is derived from Allah. If anyone maintains ties of kinship Allah maintains ties with him. If anyone cuts them off, Allah cuts him off.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary:These narrations show the loftiness of the ties of kinship, the excellence of maintaining it and the menace of breaking it.

Chapter 28. Maintaining ties of kinship will prolong life

56. Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Anyone who wants to have his provision expanded and his term of life prolonged should maintain ties of kinship.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

57. Abu Hurayra heard that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Anyone who wants to have his provision expanded and his term of life lengthened should maintain ties of kinship.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: These hadeeths prove that it is encouraged to seek legitimate means of expanding wealth, and that a person’s lifespan could be extended through connecting the ties of kinship. Nevertheless, this does not contradict the fact that life span is preordained; for as Eemaan (faith) rises and falls according to one’s deeds without contradicting preordainment, so does life span get shortened and prolonged according its means without contradicting preordainment

Chapter 29. Allah loves the one who maintains ties of kinship

58. Ibn ‘Umar said, “If someone fears his Lord and maintains ties of kinship, his term of life will be prolonged, he will have abundant wealth and his people will love him.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: This narration and the one that comes after it with a similar wording exhort towards the fear of Allah the Mighty and Exalted and connecting the ties of kinship. It mentions them both as means to gaining extension of life span, abundance of wealth and love of one’s people which are all from the signs of Allah’s love for such a person

59. Ibn ‘Umar said, “If someone his Lord and maintains ties of kinship, his term of life will be prolonged, his wealth will be abundant and his family will love him.”
Grade:
Commentary: As No. 58, with a different isnād.

Chapter 30. Being dutiful to the closest relative and then the next closest

60. It is reported that al-Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Allah enjoins you to be dutiful to your mothers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to your mothers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to your fathers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to your next closest relative and then to your next closest relative.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Kindness and respect to the mother is emphasized here because of her bearing the pains of pregnancy, labor and for nursing the child. The father is next in preference, and then the nearest relatives. The words Ummahaat (mothers) and Aabaa (fathers) includes the grand mothers and fathers, the great grand mothers and fathers and so on, upwards.

61. Abu Ayyub Sulayman, the mawla of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, said, “Abu Hurayra came to us on a Thursday evening, the night before Jumu’a. He said, ‘Every individual who severs ties of kinship is constricted when he leaves us. No one left until he had said that three times. Then a young man went to one of his paternal aunts with whom he had severed ties two years previously. He went to her and she asked him, ‘Nephew! What has brought you?’ He replied, ‘I heard Abu Hurayra say such-and- such.’ She said, ‘Go back to him and ask him why he said that.’ Abu Hurayra said, ‘I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “The actions of the children of Adam are presented before Allah Almighty on Thursday evening, the night before Jumu’a. He does not accept the actions of someone who has severed ties of kinship.”‘”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Commentary: It is rather authentically reported that Allah’s Messengerﷺ said regarding his fasting on Mondays and Thurdays that, “Actions are presented to the Lord of all that exists on those two days, and I love that my actions are presented while I am fasting…” See: Irwaa ul-Galeel (948)

62. Ibn ‘Umar said, “Nothing that a man spends on himself and his family, anticipating a reward from Allah, will fail to be rewarded by Allah Almighty. He should begin with those whose support is his responsibility. If there is something left over, he should spend it on his next nearest relative and then the next nearest. If there is still something left over, he can give it away.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Commentary: However, that one begins with his immediate dependents is authentically reported from Allah’s Messengerﷺ by Abdullah bin ‘Umar and other companions (y). See: Irwaa ul-Galeel (834).

Chapter 31. Mercy will not descend on people when there is someone among them who severs ties of kinship

63. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Awfa reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Mercy does not descend on a people when there is someone among them who severs ties of kinship.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

Chapter 32. The wrong action of someone who severs ties of kinship

64. Jubayr ibn Mu’tim reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter the Garden.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam an-Nawawee (الله رحمه (said, “this hadeeth is given two explanations: first, its been considered to refer to the one who declares severing the ties as legitimate without any reason or confusion while knowing fully well that it is prohibited. Such is a disbeliever who will remain in the Fire forever and will never enter the Garden. Second, that it means that he (i.e the one wo breaks the ties of kinhip) will not enter it (i.e. the Garden) along with the first people; he will rather be punished with delay for as long as Allah the most High likes.”

65. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Ties of kinship (rahim) is derived from the All-Merciful (ar- Rahman). They say. ‘My Lord! I have been wronged! My Lord! I have been cut off! My Lord! I haveÉ! I have!’ Allah answers them, ‘Are you not content that I cut off the one who cuts you off and I maintain connections with the one who maintains connections with you?'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: By its saying, “I have…! I have…!”, the ties of kinship counts the forms of wrong and severance it had suffered. The hadeeth contains stern warning against severing the ties of kinship. It also points to the fact that reward could be with the kind of the deed; so the one who cuts off the ties, is also cut off from Allah’s mercy. Similarly, the one who connects the ties, Allah showers His mercy on him.

66. Sa’id ibn Sam’an heard Abu Hurayra seeking refuge from the power of children and fools. Sa’id said, “Ibn Hasana al-Juhani told me that he asked Abu Hurayra, ‘What is the token of that?’ He replied, ‘That he severs ties of kinship, obeys someone who is in error, and disobeys the correct guide.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The Sabiyy (the young, immature) would lack the wisdom and emotional balance usually associated with adults and as such, may not bother to connect the ties of kinship. Similarly, the foolish lacks good sense of judgement such that he will also fail to connect the ties. When such persons lead, this sin may spread among their subjects; thus, the companion’s supplications. Allah knows best

Chapter 33. The punishment of someone who cuts off ties of kinship in this world

67. Abu Bakr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “There is no wrong action which Allah is swifter to punish in this world – in addition to the punishment which He has stored up for the wrongdoer in the Next World – than cutting off ties of kinship and injustice.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth proves that retribution for sins is quickened against those who commit the sins depending on the sin committed, and that severing the ties of kinship and oppression are quicker to invite retribution than other sins. Conversely, “there is nothing regarding which Allah is obeyed that is quicker to bring reward as connecting the ties of kinship.” See: Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth is-Saheehah (978).

Chapter 34. The one who maintains ties of kinship is not the one who reciprocates

68. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The one who maintains ties of kinship is not the one who reciprocates. The one who maintains ties of kinship is the one who, when his relatives cut him off, maintains ties of kinship.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam al-Manaawee (الله رحمه (said, “This refers to the highest level of maintaining the ties of kinship; otherwise, if he is not cut off by anyone among his relatives but he continues to connect with them, he is also considered from those who maintain the ties although his level is lower than that of the one who connects with the one that cuts off relations with him”

Chapter 35. The excellence of someone who maintains relations with relatives who are unjust

69. Al-Bara’ said, “A bedouin came and said, ‘Prophet of Allah! Teach me an action which will enable me to enter the Garden.’ He said, “The question is a broad one, even though you have asked it in only a few words. Free someone. Set a slave free.’ He said, ‘Are they not the same thing?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘Freeing someone is setting someone free yourself. Setting a slave free is to contribute to the price of setting him free. Lend an animal for milking which has a lot of milk and treat your relatives kindly. If you cannot do that, then command the good and forbid the bad. If you cannot do that, then restrain your tongue from everything except what is good.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth teaches that: (1) One should be keen to ask about and act upon good deeds. (2) The teacher could give all-embracing responses to questions that come in the same form, and he should explain aspects of his response that may not be clear to the questioner. (3) Giving generously to relatives includes both the just and unjust among them. However, maintaining ties with the unjust among them requires struggling against one’s soul; thus the saying, “…if you cannot do that…”. (4) Freeing a slave and helping to do so and the other deeds mentioned in it are from the major means of attaining the Paradise

Chapter 36. Those who maintained ties of kinship in the Jahiliyya and then became Muslim

70. Hakim ibn Hizam said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Do you think that the acts of worship which I used to do in the time of the Jahiliyya – maintaining relations with relatives, setting slaves free and sadaqa – will bring me a reward?” Hakim said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When you become Muslim, you keep the good actions you have already done.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth is one of the major evidences that establish the fact that the non-Muslim who acts upon good deeds while still a non-Muslim is rewarded for them if he accepts Islam and dies upon it. Imam as-Sindee (الله رحمه (explains, “this hadeeth proves that the good deeds of a non-Muslim are suspended; if he becomes a Muslim, they are accepted, otherwise they are rejected.” Previously, Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee (الله رحمه (gave a similar explanation and said, “this is convincing”. He cited the same view from a number of the pious predecessors. From the narrations that establish this fact is: Once Aa’isha (عنها الله ريض (said to Allah’s Messengerﷺ: ‘Indeed Ibn Jud’aan used to provide food (for the people) and he would be hospitable to his guest(s). Will any of that benefit him on the Day of Resurrection?’ The Prophetﷺ answered: “No. Indeed, on no day did he ever say: O my Lord, forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense.” (Muslim). Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (said: “This hadeeth contains clear evidence that if the non-Muslim accepts Islam, his good deeds which he performed while still a non-Muslim will benefit him as opposed to if he dies upon his disbelief; it will not then benefit him, rather it becomes vain due to his disbelief.” He also said, “This is the right position which should not be contradicted due to the preponderance of the ahaadeeth that evince it.” See: Silsilat Ahaadeeth is-Saheehah (1/492- 498)

Chapter 37. Maintaining ties of kinship with the idolater and giving gifts

71. Ibn ‘Umar said, “‘Umar saw a silk robe for sale. He said, ‘Messenger of Allah, would you buy this robe and wear it on Jumu’a and when delegations visit you?’ He replied, ‘Only a person who has no portion in the Next World could wear this.’ Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was given some robes made of the same material. He sent one of the robes to ‘Umar. ‘Umar exclaimed, ‘How can I wear it when you said what you said about it?’ The Prophet replied, ‘I did not give it to you so that you could wear it. You can sell it or give it to someone.’ ‘Umar sent it to one of his half-brothers by his mother who was still an idolater.” (see 26)
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Umar’s proposal that the Messenger of Allahﷺ should wear the robe on such important occasions like the Friday or when delegations visit him was upheld by the Messengerﷺ; he only rejected the silk robe particularly, and any other prohibited dress or mode of dressing as is known from other narrations by extension. However, the hadeeth shows the permissibility of selling silk clothes, earning profit thereby and connecting ties of kinship with non-Muslim relatives by giving them gifts

Chapter 38. Learn your lineages so that you can maintain ties of kinship

72. Jubayr ibn Mut’im said that he heard ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab say on the minbar, “Learn your lineages so that you can maintain ties of kinship. By Allah, if there are some bad feelings between a man and his brother and he knows that there is kinship between him and that man, that will prevent him from breaking with him.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The narration exhorts towards learning one’s lineage and knowing one’s relatives since the connection of the ties of kinship is dependent on it. Such knowledge will also prevent the sin of severing ties with near relatives.

73. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Keep a record of your lines of descent so that you can maintain ties of kinship. He will not make his relatives distant when they are close relatives, even if they live far away. He will not consider them to be close relatives if they are distant ones, even if they live near to him. Every time of kinship will come on the Day of Rising in front of each individual and testify on his behalf that he has maintained that tie of kinship if he did indeed maintain it. It will testify against him that he cut if off if he cut it off.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Maintaining the tie of kinship gives the strong impression that the distant relatives are actually near and that the near relatives are nearer. As such, kith and kin will love one another, they will be showered Allah’s mercy and live in peace and security. This hadeeth is also authentically reported from the sayings of Allah’s Messengerﷺ. See: Silsilat Ahaadeeth is-Saheehah (277).