Is there a specific duration for maintaining family ties?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. Is there a limit, meaning in terms of duration, for maintaining family ties?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is necessary for us to know a useful rule for the student of knowledge and for others: when Allah mentions something without specifying it, it reverts to the custom and norms of people. Maintaining family ties is mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah without being specified, so it reverts to the custom of people. The custom of people varies according to times, countries, and circumstances. For example, in some countries, one must visit one's relative every month; if one does not do so, one is considered to have cut off ties. This is also the case with some tribes. Also, in terms of times, sometimes people are in need of communication and do not delay one another, while in other circumstances, that is not the case. A relative may be sick and need frequent contact, or he may be poor and need financial support. The important point is that as long as the tie is not specified in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, it reverts to what people have agreed upon by custom.
In the present time, you can maintain ties with your relatives by telephone. If you call every day, it is known that they may get bored of it. So, make it weekly, every half month, or monthly, depending on the situation. Also, relatives differ in their degree of closeness; a paternal uncle's son is not like a brother. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is necessary for us to know a useful rule for the student of knowledge and for others: when Allah mentions something without specifying it, it reverts to the custom and norms of people. Maintaining family ties is mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah without being specified, so it reverts to the custom of people. The custom of people varies according to times, countries, and circumstances. For example, in some countries, one must visit one's relative every month; if one does not do so, one is considered to have cut off ties. This is also the case with some tribes. Also, in terms of times, sometimes people are in need of communication and do not delay one another, while in other circumstances, that is not the case. A relative may be sick and need frequent contact, or he may be poor and need financial support. The important point is that as long as the tie is not specified in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, it reverts to what people have agreed upon by custom.
In the present time, you can maintain ties with your relatives by telephone. If you call every day, it is known that they may get bored of it. So, make it weekly, every half month, or monthly, depending on the situation. Also, relatives differ in their degree of closeness; a paternal uncle's son is not like a brother. Yes.