The book Bahār-i-Sharī’at defines صِلَهٔ رِحۡم (ṣilah-i-riḥm) as establishing ties between family members and treating them well.^[1]

The author of this book, ‘Allāmah Muḥammad Amjad ‘Alī A’ẓamī  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه , also writes:

As unanimously agreed upon by the entire ummah, creating and maintaining ties of kinship is necessary (wājib). Severing relations with relatives is a sin. The command to exhibit good conduct with one’s family has been issued unconditionally in ḥadīth.

The words ذَوِي الۡقُرۡبٰي (those of close proximity: relatives and family) were also unconditionally stated in the Quran. As there are varying levels of kinship, there is also variance in regard to the level of good conduct shown. This all depends on the family member’s status. Parents hold the greatest status in this matter. Second are relatives with whom one may never marry due to having genealogical ties with them. After them is the status of all other relatives.

According to this, a person can show good conduct to his family in various ways. For example, giving gifts, helping them when they require, giving them salām, meeting them, spending time in their company, speaking with them, and being gracious towards them.

If a person is in a foreign country, he should send letters to his relatives and continue to remain in touch with them. In this way, estrangement will not occur between them. If possible, he should ensure to return to his country so that ties with his