we are related through blood, increases even further. This is the reason why Islam has encouraged us to maintain ties of kinship. Maintaining ties of kinship is to treat one’s family and relatives with kindness. (Feeroz-ul-Lughat, p. 916)

It is stated in a Hadees, ‘Indeed, Allah Almighty has kept the world populated due to one nation, and it is due to them that He increases wealth, and He has not looked towards them with dislike since He has created them.’ It was humbly asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! How is that?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Due to them maintaining ties with their own relatives.’ (Mu’jam Kabeer, vol. 12, p. 67, Raqm 12556)

Remember! Those who are most deserving of being treated nicely are the parents and siblings, after them, other relatives are deserving of being treated nicely in accordance to their status. Maintaining ties of kinship with relatives is their right; it has been greatly emphasised in the Quran and Ahadees, for maintaining ties of kinship is Wajib, and breaking ties of kinship is Haraam. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 3, p. 558)

The Quranic command of maintaining ties of kinship

Allah Almighty has commanded us to maintain ties with relatives, orphans and the needy, hence, it is stated in part 21, Surah Al-Room, verse 38:

فَاٰتِ ذَا الْقُرْبٰى حَقَّهٗ وَ الْمِسْكِیْنَ وَ ابْنَ السَّبِیْلِؕ-ذٰلِكَ خَیْرٌ لِّلَّذِیْنَ یُرِیْدُوْنَ وَجْهَ اللّٰهِ٘-وَ اُولٰٓىٕكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ(۳۸)

Therefore, give the relative his right, and to the needy, and to the traveller; this is better for those who seek the pleasure of Allah, and only their objective has been fulfilled.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 21, Surah Al-Room, Verse 38)

The renowned commentator of the Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, writes the following under this verse: ‘This verse is giving the command to fulfil the rights of all the relatives. Thus, we come to know that every relative has a right, and all relatives are included in this. We also learn that we should