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.^[1]

Explaining this sacred verse, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has stated: “The way Salah, Sawm, Hajj, Zakah etc., are necessary for Muslims, similarly, it is also imperatively important to fulfil the rights of relatives also.” He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه further said: “Treating loved ones and family members well is very beneficial for this world, as well as for the Hereafter. This stabilises our affairs in this life, death and even the Hereafter.”^[2]

Sadr al-Shari’ah, ‘Allamah Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has stated: “There is a consensus of the entire Ummah on the fact that treating relatives well is Wajib and cutting ties with them is Haraam.”

He has further explained this topic:

There are different methods of treating relatives well. For example, giving gifts, providing them help if they need it from you, exchanging Salam, meeting them, spending time with them, speaking with them and treating them with kindness. If a person is abroad, he should write letters to his relatives. He should remain in touch with his relatives through writing, so their relationship is not fractured. If possible, he should come to their country and strengthen ties with his relatives. Doing so would increase affection between them. (Nowadays, the practice of writing letters has come to a near standstill. One can keep in touch through mobile phones and the Internet as well. The purpose is to keep ties established, no matter what permissible means are used for it).^[3]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                            صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد