O devotees of Allah’s Messenger! The jurist Abu al-Layth Samarqandī    رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explains,

There are 10 benefits to maintaining family ties: Allah becomes pleased; people are made happy; angels become joyous; Muslims praise the person who maintains these family ties; Satan becomes sad; one’s lifespan is increased; one attains blessings in his sustenance; a person’s deceased family members become glad; love increases amongst one another; and one increases in reward even after death, as people pray for him to receive goodness.^[1]

Eagerly desire to perform good deeds

1.   The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared, لَا تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَیْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَی أَخَاکَ بِوَجْہٍ طَلْقٍ - “Do not deem any act of righteousness to be insignificant, even if it is meeting your brother with a cheerful face.”^[2]

2.   The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, اِحْرِصْ عَلٰی مَایَنْفَعُکَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللّٰہِ وَلَاتَعْجِزْ - “Be covetous of that which benefits you, seek help from Allah and do not become incapable.”^[3]

O devotees of Allah’s Messenger! The commentator of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim and renowned hadith expert, Imam Sharaf al-Dīn Nawawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explains this hadith, “This means one must eagerly yearn to worship Allah and be covetous for the reward resultant from this. Rather than relying upon your own efforts in this worship, seek Allah’s help.”^[4]