Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) said,\u201d\nI advise my entire nation, those present and those absent, those in the\nbackbones of their fathers and wombs of their mothers until the Day of\nJudgment, to connect with their relatives, even if there is a distance of a\nyear (of travelling) between them. This is a part of the religion of Islam.\u201d (1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connecting with relatives and doing\ngood to them, especially the parents, is one of important ways of spiritual\ngrowth (2) and gaining proximity towards Allah (SWT)(3). In fact, it is\nconsidered the most valuable of religious deeds after belief in Allah (SWT)\n(4), and has abundant rewards (5). Disconnecting with relatives is considered\nto be a type of breaking one\u2019s oath with Allah (SWT) (6), and is so disliked by\nAllah (SWT) that people are forbidden from companionship with a person who has\ndisconnected with his relatives(7), and Allah (SWT) has cursed such a person in\nthe Holy Quran(8).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In regards with some of the\nconsequences of disconnecting with relatives, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP)\nsaid,\u201d Disconnecting with relatives prevents prayers and conceals them\u201d (9). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The importance of connecting with\nrelatives is so high that it is the fastest of deeds in terms of being\nrewarded. Moreover, besides rewards in the Hereafter, it receives immediate\nreward in this world; such that even a sinful family will gain wealth by\nconnecting with each other, and their lives will be extended due to favoring\neach other (10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP)\nhas referred to rewards for connecting with relatives in this world and\nhereafter in a statement where he said,\u201d Whoever connects with relatives is\nloved by Allah (SWT), and Allah (SWT) will expand his sustenance, extend his\nlife, and enter him to the Paradise He has promised\u201d(11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connecting with relatives is not just\nlimited to the faithful ones among them; rather it is an extensive moral,\nreligious obligation. As such, even if one\u2019s parents or relatives are not\nreligious, respecting them is still mandatory, and fulfilling their needs is\nemphasized (12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, a man went to the\nMessenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) and said,\u201d O Messenger of Allah! I have some\nrelatives that do nothing but oppression, disconnection, and insult towards me.\nCan I disconnect them?\u201d The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) replied,\u201d In that\ncase, Allah (SWT) will disconnect you\u201d. The man asked,\u201d Then what should I do?\u201d\nThe Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) replied,\u201d Connect with those who have\ndisconnected from you, do favor to those who have abandoned you, and forgive\nthose who have oppressed you. If you did so, Allah (SWT) will support you\nagainst them.\u201d (13)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connecting with relatives has numerous\nforms of application, and is not limited to visiting them at their houses;\nrather its full application is to fulfill their needs and make them happy\nbefore others do (14). Moreover, connecting with relatives and having ties with\nthem is based on their status; for example, it might be just greeting them and\nresponding to their greeting properly in case they do not have financial needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not harming the relatives (15),\ngreeting and honoring them (16), feeding them even with a sip of water (17),\nvisiting them at time of illness (18), attending their funerals (19), visiting\nthem (20), and offering them gifts (21) are some applications of connecting\nwith relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people try to take religion to\ncorners of mosques and restrict it to private, personal matters; however, the\nmajority of the teachings of the Prophets and successors are related to social\nactivities and issues. In fact, the social aspect of human being is much more\nthan the personal aspect. Connecting with relatives is a social activity. It is\nan act of deed which if a person fails to observe, he has neglected piety (22),\nand hence, his other deeds would not be accepted (23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is appropriate to ponder a bit\nafter realizing the importance of connecting with relatives. Have we ever done\nharm to one of our relatives? Have we neglected them at times of need? If so,\nlet us do something about it, and if not, let us make our connection more\nprofound from now on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The above is a\nselection taken from \u201cMafaatih al-Hayat (Keys of Life)\u201d, by Ayatullah Jawadi\nAmuli (with changes and additions))<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website offers condolences\nto all Muslims, especially you dear friend, upon 28th of Safar, the anniversary\nof the demise of the last Messenger, the mercy upon the universe, and master of\nthe Prophets, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH&HP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 151<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 157<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Khisaal of\nSaduq, p. 156<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. The Holy\nQuran (2, 83); (4, 36); (6, 151)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 157<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. The Holy\nQuran (2, 27); (13, 25)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 641<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. The Holy\nQuran (2, 27); (13, 25); (47, 22-23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Mustadrak\nal-Wasa\u2019il, vol. 15, p. 185<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Khisaal of\nSaduq, p. 124<\/p>\n\n\n\n
11. Uyun Akhbar\nal-Riza, vol. 2, p. 37<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12. Connecting\nwith relatives is valid only up to the point it does not conflict with other acts\nof worship; however, if other acts of worship are endangered due to connecting\nwith relatives, not only it would not be necessary, in fact it would be\nforbidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
13. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 150<\/p>\n\n\n\n
14. Tasnim, vol.\n2, p. 560<\/p>\n\n\n\n
15. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 151<\/p>\n\n\n\n
16. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 155<\/p>\n\n\n\n
17. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 151<\/p>\n\n\n\n
18. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 636<\/p>\n\n\n\n
19. Kaafi, vol.\n2, p. 636<\/p>\n\n\n\n
20. Al-Ja\u2019faryiaat,\np. 153<\/p>\n\n\n\n
21. Al-Ja\u2019faryiaat,\np. 153<\/p>\n\n\n\n
22. Khisal of\nSaduq, p. 156<\/p>\n\n\n\n
23. The Holy\nQuran (5, 27)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) said,\u201d I advise my entire nation, those present and those absent, those in the backbones of their fathers and wombs of their mothers until the Day of Judgment, to connect with their relatives, even if there is a distance of a year (of travelling) between them. This is a part of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248,28383],"tags":[63173],"class_list":["post-3962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","category-en-the-great-prophet-of-islam-pbuhhp","tag-the-words-of-the-holy-prophet"],"yoast_head":"\n