Maintaining Family Ties

Question:

I want to know if it is permissible not to meet close relatives who don’t fulfil their basic Islamic obligations, such as salah and fasting etc. They may also be engaged in haraam actvities, such as drinking alcohol, eating non-halaal food, using abusive language etc. Nowadays it is hard enough to bring up your children according to the Islamic way of life.Meeting such close relatives can be a very bad influence on them. I certainly would really wish to stay away from relatives that don’t practice their Deen.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

To maintain family ties is compulsory. It is an integral part of Islam and is emphasized in the Quran and many Ahadith. Rasulullah  Sallallāhu Alayhi Wasallam said: whosoever desires extended sustenance and extended life should maintain family ties. To sever family ties is a sin.

In order to maintain family ties, one does not have to compromise on ones Islamic values. One has to create a balancing act between the two. Maintain family ties as well as guard ones Islamic values and practices. That can be done by occasionally meeting family members and being cordial with them,by making Salam and enquiring about their well being.

Maintaining family ties does not mean having detailed meetings and association. The challenge of your Iman is to go against your Nafs. Meet family members and offer them your compassion. Those good gestures could impact on them positively and you could be a means of their reformation. Be tolerant and diplomatic in dealing with them. The pain of your discomfort will yield positive results. If you put the pleasure of Allah before you, no difficulty is difficult anymore.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Idealwoman.org