Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه elaborates on the meaning of this ḥadīth: ‘Possessing good opinions of Muslims, as well as not thinking ill of them, are considered fine and commendable acts of worship.’^[1]

Even if you have a relative who does not meet you deliberately or otherwise, does not invite you to see them or has openly displayed bad conduct, remain big-hearted, do not be discouraged, and maintain ties with them.  

Sayyidunā Ubayy b. Ka’b رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once elegantly said:

Whoever desires for a palace to be built for him (in Paradise) and his rank to be raised should forgive the one who oppresses him, give to the one who deprives him, and establish ties with the one who severs them.^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers, sometimes, family members cut ties with one another over the smallest of issues. If any of our relatives says something mistakenly, or does something that hurts our feelings, we tend to forget about our own shortcomings entirely. We instead fall prey to the tricks of the nafs and Satan. Over small things, we sever ties completely and stop speaking with one another, almost launching a complete boycott of the other person. Even if they were to apologise, our stubbornness does not allow us to forgive them and move on. If somebody tries to advise us against this, we silence them immediately.

This is the complete opposite of what we should be doing. Our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has forbidden us to have hatred and jealousy for