The Ruling on Maintaining Ties with Relatives Who Mistreat You

Question:
He says: We hope you will clarify for us the relatives with whom maintaining ties is obligatory. I have relatives or kin who have been hurting me and insulting me for three years. Whenever I try to get close to them, they show me hatred and enmity. I have advised them many times to no avail. What do you advise me to do, given that they are hypocrites in front of people?

Answer:
The relatives and kin are those connected to you by lineage through the father or the mother: brothers and sisters, paternal uncles and aunts, grandparents, maternal uncles and aunts, the sons of brothers, the sons of sisters, the sons of sons, and the sons of daughters. Everyone connected to you by lineage through the father or the mother is among the relatives. You must be good to them, starting with the closest and then the next closest. As for what you mentioned about being good to them while they mistreat you, a man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about something similar. He said, "I have relatives who I maintain ties with, but they cut me off. I am good to them, but they are bad to me." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him, "If you are as you say, it is as if you are pouring molten lead on them, and Allah will be a supporter for you against them." So you must be good to them and fulfill the right you owe them. As for them, they are accountable for the right you have over them. You are accountable for what you owe, and they are accountable for what they owe. Yes, and be patient.