2. He is not amongst us who does not show mercy to our young ones, does not pay respect to our elders and does not fulfil our rights.(Mu’jam-e-Kabeer, vol. 11, pp. 355, Hadees 12276)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Islamic code of life regarding relatives

Dear Islamic sisters! As Islam guides us about familial relations and teaches us to fulfil the rights of one another, it also gives us the guiding principles and rules in relation to relatives.

Let us listen to what Islam has commanded us with regard to treating relatives well and about how we should behave towards them. Listen to it carefully and do your best to treat your relatives well. It is stated in the first verse of Surah An-Nisa:

وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِیْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهٖ وَ الْاَرْحَامَؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلَیْكُمْ رَقِیْبًا(۱)

And fear Allah in whose name you demand (mutual rights) and be mindful of your (blood) relations. Indeed Allah is observing you at all times.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 1)

Regarding this blessed verse, it is stated in Tafseer-e-Na’eemi: The way Salah, Fast, Hajj, Zakah etc. are necessary for Muslims, similarly it is also extremely necessary to fulfil the rights of relatives. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه further said: Treating relatives and ‘near ones’ well is very beneficial for one’s life in the world and the Hereafter; it makes all our life, death and the Hereafter better.

(Tafseer-e-Na’eemi, vol. 4, pp. 455-456)

Remember! Grandmothers, grandfathers (both paternal and maternal) and uncles, aunties (both paternal and maternal) etc., also have some rights.

On page no. 197 of the book ‘Bahisht ki Kunjiyan [Keys to Paradise]’, publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah, it is stated: Severing ties with relatives