Harms of Severing Family Ties

Yesterday we took a look at the verses of the Holy Quran and the Hadith of Nabi ﷺ regarding the severity of this matter.

Now let us take a look at what a person stand to lose by cutting off family ties.

 Cutting ties risks the chance of entering Paradise altogether

Jubair bin Mut’am RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ قَاطِعٌ

“The one who severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.” [Agreed upon].

So maybe it could be helpful to pause and ask ourselves: is it worth it? Is whatever reason/excuse that led us to break the ties of kinship worth losing eternal Jannah?

Paradise is not a light matter; it needs effort and sacrifice.

So always bear in mind the price of Jannah.

Wasting a reward higher than fasting, prayer and almsgiving

أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ دَرَجَةِ الصِّيَامِ وَالصَّلاَةِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا بَلَى ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ إِصْلاَحُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ وَفَسَادُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ الْحَالِقَةُ

Abu Darda’ RA narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Shall I not inform you of something more excellent in degree than fasting, prayer and almsgiving (sadaqah)? The people replied: Yes, Prophet of Allah! He said: It is putting things right between people, spoiling them is the shaver (destructive).” [Sunan Abi Dawud 4919]

This is the reward of mending relations between people, let alone family members.

Maintaining ties is a proof of true faith and belief

The Prophet ﷺ said:

ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليصل رحمه

“He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain good relation with kins” [Al Bukhari and Muslim]

So when we work on maintaining the relations, we are in fact practicing true faith in Allah, because we’re favouring Him over personal conflicts.

Maintaining ties expands your provision and extends your age

Not only is maintaining the relations beneficial spiritually, but there are actually physical, tangible rewards for it.

Anas reported the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying:

مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ أَوْ يُنْسَأَ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ ‏

“Anyone who is pleased that his sustenance is expanded and his age extended should do kindness to his near relatives.” [Muslim 2557]

So this actually leads to a longer, healthier and more productive life, as well as, more sustenance and rizq from Allah.