The Criterion for Maintaining Family Ties
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Are there specific times regarding maintaining family ties such that if you exceed them, you enter into what is forbidden? Whether it is a week, a month, or six months, if you exceed this period, do you fall into sin?
Maintaining family ties—may Allah reward you—has no limit, neither in duration nor in manner, nor in the means by which one connects, whether money, clothing, or otherwise. The texts came in absolute terms: "maintaining family ties." So whatever people consider maintaining ties, that is maintaining ties, and whatever they consider severing ties, that is severing ties. And thus circumstances differ. People may be in a state of poverty and relatives may have great needs, in which case one must connect with them through money.And it means: One should look after them. Some relatives may be ill and in need of a visit, so one must visit them. And if people are in a state of well-being and health, as is our case now—praise be to Allah—and do not need such things, then the important point is that maintaining family ties is left to the custom of people, and it has no fixed limit.
The questioner: And if the situation is good, with no poverty or illness?The Shaykh: Praise be to Allah! According to what is customary, for example, you call them on the phone once a month, or twice a month, or once a week, depending on the situation.
Maintaining family ties—may Allah reward you—has no limit, neither in duration nor in manner, nor in the means by which one connects, whether money, clothing, or otherwise. The texts came in absolute terms: "maintaining family ties." So whatever people consider maintaining ties, that is maintaining ties, and whatever they consider severing ties, that is severing ties. And thus circumstances differ. People may be in a state of poverty and relatives may have great needs, in which case one must connect with them through money.And it means: One should look after them. Some relatives may be ill and in need of a visit, so one must visit them. And if people are in a state of well-being and health, as is our case now—praise be to Allah—and do not need such things, then the important point is that maintaining family ties is left to the custom of people, and it has no fixed limit.
The questioner: And if the situation is good, with no poverty or illness?The Shaykh: Praise be to Allah! According to what is customary, for example, you call them on the phone once a month, or twice a month, or once a week, depending on the situation.