BENEFIT: SIX IMPORTANT POINTS Related to Upholding Ties of Kinship

POINT 1: What is the ruling on upholding ties of kinship? It is obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever wishes to have his provision expanded and his life extended, let him maintain ties of kinship.” In another authentic hadith regarding the family ties, He ﷻ said: “Whoever maintains it, I will maintain ties with him; and whoever severs it, I will sever ties with him.” Allāh also says: “Would you then, if you were given authority, spread corruption in the land and sever your ties of kinship? Such are the ones whom Allāh has cursed, so He made them deaf and blinded their sight” [Muḥammad: 22–23]. In another hadith: “The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.” [Ref: Sheikh Ibn Baz's lessons on Sharḥ Bulūgh Al-Marām, Kitāb Al-Jāmi’] POINT 2: Who are the arḥām (kinsfolk) that one must maintain ties with? In the context of صلة الرحم (maintaining family ties), arḥām refer to a person's blood relatives from their father's or mother's side, whether or not they are entitled to inherit. The closest of these relatives include: parents, grandparents, children, and their descendants; then come those next in proximity, such as siblings and their children, paternal uncles and aunts and their children, and maternal uncles and aunts and their children. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ was asked by a man: “O Messenger of Allāh, who is most deserving of my good treatment?” He replied: “Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” He said: “Your mother.” He asked again: “Then who?” He replied: “Your mother.” He asked once more: “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Your father, then the next closest, and the next.” This hadith was recorded by Imam Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ, and there are many similar narrations on this subject. As for the wife’s relatives: they are not considered arḥām (kinsfolk) of the husband unless they are also his blood relatives. However, they are arḥām in relation to his children through her. [Ref: Sheikh Ibn Bāz raḥimahullāh - Fatāwā Islāmiyyah (4/195)] BENEFIT: raḥim is of two types: (1) maḥram relative, and (2) non-maḥram relative The definition of maḥram relative is: any two individuals who, if one were male and the other female, it would be unlawful for them to marry one another. This includes: fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers (no matter how far up the lineage), sons and their descendants (no matter how far down), paternal and maternal uncles and aunts. Non-maḥram relative refers to all other relatives with whom marriage is permissible, such as your maternal cousin (son of your maternal aunt), paternal cousin (daughter of your paternal aunt), maternal cousin (son of your maternal uncle), and so on. [Ref: Al-Mawsū’ah Al-Kuwaitiyyah Al-Fiqhiyyah (3/83)] NOTE: Scholars have differed on whether maintaining ties of kinship with non-maḥram relatives is obligatory. The more cautious approach is to maintain such ties in ways that are void of fitnah—for example, by conveying greetings through a male family member. NOTE: Breastfeeding is not like blood relation when it comes to maintaining family ties; صلة الرحم is specific to blood relatives. [Ref: Majmū Fatāwā Ibn Bāz (22/281)] POINT 3: Does the obligation of upholding ties of kinship vary? Yes, the closer the blood relation, the greater the obligation to maintain it. Thus, the duty to uphold ties with one’s parents is of a greater obligation than upholding ties with maternal or paternal uncles and aunts; likewise, the obligation toward uncles and aunts is greater than that toward their children. The duty toward relatives who are closely connected by lineage or clan is greater than that toward more distant relatives. Similarly, maintaining ties with relatives who live in the same town or area is more binding than with those who live far away and whose connection would require travel or similar effort. POINT 4: What are the ways to maintain ties of kinship?