Dealing with Harmful Close Relatives and Maintaining Ties with Them

Question:
This is a sister who is asking. She says: Honorable Shaykh, I have close relatives who have always been the source of actions and behavior that hurt me. I am a person who is committed to obeying Allah and performing my worship. So, I decided to stay away from them a long time ago. I hold nothing against them in my heart, but I am keeping my distance to avoid their harm, and because the behavior they engage in angers me. Is my action correct, and what is the way to maintain ties with them? May Allah reward you.

Answer:
It is obligatory to be patient, to endure, and to forgive and pardon those who have wronged you. Likewise, maintaining ties with relatives, maintaining family ties, and indeed being kind to people in general, is required of the Muslim. One should not isolate oneself from them, nor distance oneself from them, nor feel resentment toward them if they have wronged him. Rather, he should forgive them and pardon them.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.