Keeping ties of kinship (silat al-rahim) is a sign of faith that brings Allah's closeness, and the Prophet ﷺ said it increases a person's provision and lengthens their life. It means visiting, calling, helping and being kind to relatives, especially those who are distant or difficult.
The Quran pairs our duty to relatives with our duty to Allah: "fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and
the wombs" 1, meaning the ties of the womb, our family bonds. Allah also praises those "who join that which
Allah has ordered to be joined" 2.
The Prophet ﷺ made it part of faith: "whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should unite the bond of
kinship" 3. He explained that the word ar-rahm (the womb, the bond of kinship) is derived from Ar-Rahman (the
Most Merciful), and that Allah keeps ties with whoever keeps ties with it 4.
There is a promise for this life too: "Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be
prolonged then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin" 5. Scholars explain that this includes
barakah (blessing) in one's time and provision.
Giving to relatives counts twice. The Prophet ﷺ said charity to a poor person is charity, while charity to a
relative is "two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship" 6.
Even relatives who are not on your side religiously are included. The Prophet ﷺ said of a family that did not
support him, "they have kinship with me and I will be good and dutiful to them" 7.
What counts? Visiting, calling or messaging, attending their happy and sad occasions, helping with money or
effort when they are in need, and making dua for them. This week, pick one relative you have not spoken to in a
while and reach out. It may be one of the most rewarding things you do.
The evidence
1
Quran An-Nisaa · 4:1
Fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the ties of the womb.
O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer
2
Quran Ar-Ra'd · 13:21
The righteous join what Allah has ordered to be joined.
And those who join that which Allah has ordered to be joined and fear their Lord and are afraid of the evil of [their] account
3
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 6138
SahihBukhari
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should keep ties of kinship.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should unite the bond of kinship (i.e. keep good relation with his kith and kin); and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should talk what is good or keep quiet
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ ".
4
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5988
SahihBukhari
Ar-rahm is derived from Ar-Rahman; Allah keeps ties with whoever keeps it.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The word 'Ar-Rahm (womb) derives its name from Ar-Rahman (i.e., one of the names of Allah) and Allah said: 'I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you, (womb i.e. Kith and Kin) and sever the relation with him who will sever the relation with you, (womb, i.e. Kith and Kin)
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ الرَّحِمَ سُجْنَةٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ، فَقَالَ اللَّهُ مَنْ وَصَلَكِ وَصَلْتُهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَكِ قَطَعْتُهُ ".
5
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5986
SahihBukhari
Keeping ties of kinship increases provision and prolongs life.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ، وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ، فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ ".
6
HadithSunan an-Nasa'i 2582
Sahihgraded by Al-Albani
Charity to a relative counts as charity and upholding ties of kinship.
It was narrated from Salman bin 'Amir that the Prophet said:"Giving charity to a poor person is charity, and (giving) to a relative is two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship
The Prophet ﷺ kept kinship with relatives who were not his supporters.
Narrated `Amr bin Al-`As:I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying openly not secretly, "The family of Abu so-and-so (i.e. Talib) are not among my protectors." `Amr said that there was a blank space (1) in the Book of Muhammad bin Ja`far. He added, "My Protector is Allah and the righteous believing people." `Amr bin Al-`As added: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'But they (that family) have kinship (Rahm) with me and I will be good and dutiful to them
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جِهَارًا غَيْرَ سِرٍّ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ آلَ أَبِي " ـ قَالَ عَمْرٌو فِي كِتَابِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ بَيَاضٌ ـ لَيْسُوا بِأَوْلِيَائِي، إِنَّمَا وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. زَادَ عَنْبَسَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ عَنْ بَيَانٍ عَنْ قَيْسٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَلَكِنْ لَهُمْ رَحِمٌ أَبُلُّهَا بِبَلاَلِهَا ". يَعْنِي أَصِلُهَا بِصِلَتِهَا.
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