to talk to his parents – it is a sin for him to fulfil this type of an oath. It is Wajib (compulsory) for him to break such oaths and to fulfil the rights of his family members.

Remember, here it does not mean that the act of not fulfilling this oath is also a sin, but fulfilling it is a greater sin. The correct ruling is that to fulfil this oath is a severely major sin, and not to fulfil it is an act of reward. As it is the blasphemy of the name of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to break the oath, it is for this reason that atonement is Wajib. Not to break this oath is a more severe sin.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, pp. 198, vol. 5)

Definition of ‘Silah-e-Rihmi (صِلَهٔ رِحۡمي)’

Dear Islamic brothers! The word ‘صِلَهٔ [Silah]’ is defined as: ‘اِيۡصَالُ نَوۡعٍ مِّنۡ اَنۡوَاعِ الۡاِحۡسَانِ’ i.e., showing kindness and doing any type of favour. (Az-Zawajir, vol. 2, pp. 156) The word ‘رِحۡم [Rihm]’ refers to closeness and relationship.

(Lisan-ul-Arab, vol. 1, pp. 1479)

It is sated in Bahar-e-Shari’at, ‘صِلَهٔ رِحۡم [Silah-Rihm] implies establishing relations, i.e. doing any favour to your relatives and treating them with kindness. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 3, pp. 558)

Sadr-ush-Shar’iah, Badr-ut-Tareeqah, ‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـقَـوِی has said: The entire Ummah agree with the fact that treating one’s relatives with kindness is Wajib, and breaking off relations is a grave sin. Muslims have been unconditionally commanded in the blessed Ahadees to treat relatives with kindness. The words ‘ذَوِي الۡقُرۡبٰي’ (i.e. relatives) were unconditionally stated in the Holy Quran. However, as there are different levels in relationships, there are also different levels of treating relatives with kindness, depending upon how close a relative is. Parents hold the greatest status in this matter. After them is the status of Zu-Rihm Mahram (i.e. those relatives with whom marriage is Haraam forever, due to Nasabi [genealogical] relationship with them). Thereafter is the status of other relatives, depending upon how close relationship they have with you.