Biggest sin

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “By Allah, if anyone of you takes an oath to harm his family, he commits a greater sin according to Allah than that of dissolving his oath and making expiation for it.”^[1]

The renowned commentator, Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه once again offers his expert insight:

It is sinful for an individual to carry out an oath which infringes the rights of his relatives. For example, if he vows to not serve his mother or not speak with his parents. It is necessarily binding (wājib) for him to break such an oath and fulfil their rights.

In this regard, it is not sinful to dissolve such an oath. Carrying it out and implementing it would incur sin for the doer. Fulfilling these oaths is a grave sin in essence, and to not fulfil them is an act of reward. This is despite the fact the name of Allah was not given its due esteem by dissolving an oath taken upon His name.  Due to this shortcoming in showing respect to the name of Allah, expiation becomes necessary. Not breaking this oath at all would lead to steep sin.^[2]

Definition of صِلَهٔ رِحۡمي - good conduct with relatives

Dear Islamic brothers, let us now focus on the term صِلَهٔ رِحۡمي. The word صِلَهٔ (ṣilah) is defined as: اِيۡصَالُ نَوۡعٍ مِّنۡ اَنۡوَاعِ الۡاِحۡسَانِ - all forms of kindness and favour.^[3] The word رِحۡم (riḥm) denotes family ties and relationship.^[4]