“Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish the Salah, pay the Zakah, and uphold the ties of kinship.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 5:21)
This was Messenger Muhammad’s reply on a question about a deed leading to Paradise.
Do you want to attain Paradise? Strengthen your family bonds. But how can we achieve that? Let’s explore some practical tips.
Who Is Your Kin?
Your kin includes blood relatives such as your father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, and cousins.
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How Should You Treat Your Kin?
Islam urges the Muslim to take care of their kin in different ways. Following are some tips on how to treat your kin:
1. Show Love to Strengthen Relations
Love is the foundation of any strong relationship. Expressing love toward your relatives helps build and maintain strong family bonds.
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2. Help Your Relatives in Times of Need
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “If anyone relieves a Muslim believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. If anyone makes it easy for the one who is indebted to him, Allah will make it easy for him in this worldly life and the Hereafter. Allah helps His slave as long as he helps his brother.” (Sahih Muslim)
Helping others, especially your relatives, not only increases love but also strengthens your bonds. The reward is doubled because you are both relieving a Muslim’s hardship and maintaining family ties.
3. Avoid Hurting Your Relatives
Refrain from actions or words that could harm your relatives. Be just and fair in all your dealings with them.
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4. Visit Ill Relatives
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Verily, when a Muslim visits his brother in Islam, he remains in the fruit garden of Paradise until he returns.” (Sahih Muslim) Visiting a sick relative earns you double rewards—once for visiting a Muslim and again for visiting a family member.
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5. Provide Financial Support
If your relatives are in need, help them financially. As God said: “… and they ask you (O Muhammad) what they should spend. Say: ‘Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred…’” (Quran 2:219)
The Prophet (PBUH) also said: “Charity towards a poor person is charity, and towards a relative, it is both charity and maintaining the ties of kinship.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i)
6. Maintain Regular Contact
Keep in touch with your relatives, even if it’s just a phone call or a message.
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7. Respect Your Elders and Be Kind to the Young
Show respect to your elder relatives and be gentle and kind to the younger ones.
8. Include Them in Your Du’a (Supplication)
Remember your relatives in your prayers, asking Allah to bless them and guide them.
9. Exchange Gifts
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Shake hands, and rancor will disappear. Give presents to each other and love each other, and enmity will disappear.” (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad) A small gift can go a long way in strengthening family bonds.
10. Guide Them to Righteousness
Encourage your relatives to do what is right and warn them against what is wrong. If one of your relatives is not a believer, it is your duty to try to guide them to Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) persisted in calling his uncle, Abu Talib, to Islam to save him from Hellfire, even though his uncle died a disbeliever.
The Rewards of Maintaining Family Bonds
Do you think the rewards for strengthening ties of kinship are only in the Hereafter? Certainly not. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Anyone who is pleased that his sustenance is expanded and his age extended should do kindness to his near relatives.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
It’s a simple effort with immense rewards.
The Consequences of Severing Family Ties
On the other hand, be aware of God’s punishment if you damage your relationship with your relatives. God said in the Quran:
“So would you perhaps if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship? Those [who do so] are the ones that Allah has cursed, so He deafened them and blinded their vision.” (Quran 47:22)
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want to attain Paradise and be saved from Hellfire, take extra care of your relationships with your relatives. Life is too short. Fill it with good deeds, one of which is to strengthen the ties of kinship. If all of us take these tips into consideration, love and mercy will prevail as a result.
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