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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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The ruling on obeying a parent who orders his son not to visit any of his relatives

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Question:
My father orders me not to maintain ties with my maternal uncle because he has a misunderstanding with him over a worldly matter. He says: "If you visit your uncle, I will throw you out of my house; otherwise, I will boycott you just as I boycotted him." What should I do?

Answer:
If your father orders you to boycott your maternal uncle, or your paternal uncle, or someone like them, without right, except that it is a misunderstanding between your father and your maternal uncle, or his brother, or something like that, for the sake of worldly matters and disputes, then you are not permitted to obey your father; because this is a disobedience to Allah.
Obedience is in matters which are good and universally recognized.إنما الطاعة في المعروف
Sunan Abi Dawud 2625Sahih (Al-Albani)
A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the "Creator.”لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالق
Mishkat al-Masabih 3696

And your father must also fear Allah, and not boycott him for more than three days. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade boycotting for more than three days in worldly matters.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to have estranged relations with his brother beyond three nights, the one turning one way and the other turning the other way when they meet; the better of the two is one who is the first to give a greeting.لا يحل لمسلم أن يهجر أخاه فوق ثلاث يلتقيان، فيعرض هذا، ويعرض هذا، وخيرهما الذي يبدأ بالسلام
Sahih Muslim 2560a
And he said:
There is no boycotting for more than three daysلا هجرة فوق ثلاث
As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 63:255

The intended meaning: That boycotting for the sake of resentment, enmity, and disputes is never permissible, but it is permissible for three days. It is permissible to boycott in a dispute for three days, or less. If there is a dispute between you and him, and his character has become bad toward you, and something has happened in the heart, then there is no harm in boycotting him for three days; as a mercy from Allah; because souls have their share of being considered, being gentle with them, and being kind to them. So boycotting for three days is sufficient to alleviate the intensity and remove the severity. If the three days have passed, the best of the two is the one who initiates the greeting.
And you, O son, if your father refuses to let you, you are permitted to maintain ties with your maternal uncle, and your paternal uncle, even if it is through secrecy. You maintain ties, you do good to them, and you visit them, even if it is through secrecy; so that the situation does not become severe between you and your father. And do not obey him in disobedience, but deal with him in the best manner, and strive to make your ties and your dutifulness to your maternal uncle, and your paternal uncle, and the like, in a way that he does not find out, if you fear that more evil will occur.
And as for if you are able to calm the situation, and advise your father, and say to him: "This is not permissible," and that you must be kind to your brother, or to your maternal uncle, the point is that you advise him; perhaps he will be guided; so that he reconciles with your maternal uncle, or your paternal uncle, and so that this estrangement between them is removed.
As for if the boycotting is for the sake of religion; because the person displays sins and innovations, then he is boycotted until he repents, even if it is a year, or two years, or more, he is boycotted until he repents. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) boycotted three who lagged behind the expedition without an excuse. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) boycotted them for fifty nights until Allah turned to them in mercy, so they repented, and displayed their repentance, and made it clear to the people that Allah had turned to them in mercy, so people spoke to them after that.
So the conclusion: That boycotting, if it is for the sake of Allah, for the sake of apparent sins, or innovations, then this has no limit except repentance. If they return from their apparent sins, and their innovations, then the Muslims greet them. And as for if they persist in their innovations, and sins; then it is prescribed to boycott them; perhaps they will repent; perhaps they will return. And if boycotting them may harm the Muslims, and cause more problems; then they are not boycotted, but they are advised, and guided. If boycotting them harms the society, or leads to corruption, or to a greater evil, then boycotting them here is a matter of independent legal reasoning, and a matter of consideration.
Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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