by inviting them, they seek to extract some form of use out of them, and their intentions are not sincere.

Any relative who may not be of use to them is then totally discarded. Leave aside inviting them anywhere, such family members are subjected to complete rejection, never being spoken to or considered in family affairs. Similarly, relatives eligible for receiving zakāh are ignored year after year. The level of hostility that then builds up is immense. If someone were to pass away, this hostility even stops their own family from taking part in their funeral proceedings. Imagine someone passing away and their own family not being prepared to pray for them!

In short, the traditional love, sincerity and well-wishing that existed between family members seems to have disappeared today, that too by our own doing. In such sensitive times, maintaining ties with one’s family is being considered a burden.

Let us now have the honour of listening to some ḥadīth of the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , which discuss cutting ties with family and not helping them in their time of need. We hope these beautiful statements will bring true fear of Allah into our hearts, and after hearing them, make firm intention to have nothing but good conduct with your family.

*   O ummah of Muhammad ( صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم )! I vow by He who sent me with the truth; Allah does not accept the charity of a person whose family remain in need of his benevolence, but he spends on others instead. I vow by He Who has power over my soul, Allah will not cast a gaze of mercy upon such a person on the Day of Judgement.^[1]

*   If a person is approached by his close relative, and they ask him for that which has been bestowed upon him by Allah to an amount greater than his need, but the person remains miserly; Allah will