Advice to Those Who Sever Family Ties

Question:
There is a severance among us over money and inheritance. Between me and my brothers and sisters, we are currently distant and have been estranged for more than six months. I hope that His Eminence the Shaykh will offer them advice from this pulpit, so that perhaps they will return to the truth.

Answer:
Answer: It is not permissible for Muslims to boycott one another, especially relatives, for this involves severing family ties, and severing family ties is one of the major sins. The hadith states: “It is not permissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother for more than three nights. They meet, and this one turns away, and that one turns away, and the best of them is the one who begins with the greeting of peace.” So you should reconcile with them, urge them to reconcile among themselves, be tolerant toward one another, and maintain family ties among themselves. They should not remain estranged. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: “But do you fear that if you turn away, He will cause corruption on the earth and sever your family ties? And those are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.” The warning is severe. Therefore, you should raise your deeds to Allah, as is done on Mondays and Thursdays, so that He forgives their people, except for those between whom there is a severance of family ties. It is said: “Wait for these two until they reconcile.”