Neglecting ties of kinship to focus on calling to Allaah

2-5-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaama alaykum. I want to ask you if it is permissible for me to ignore my muslim brothers and family members (not because of hatred, envy, or jealousy) except for my brother, sister, and mother. Is there not a hadith that states that the pleasure of Allaah is the pleasure of the mother? If I compensate it by being the best for my mother among all of mankind, and not only that, but I want to do Daʻwah (proselytization) to the disbelievers, so will Allaah pardon me because of this intention that I have? I want to do Daʻwah, and if they become muslim, then I will have the best deed on my record; is that not right? I want to spend all time on Daʻwah and not even spend a second on anything else than Daʻwah to the disbelievers. So I wish to be the best for my mother and do Daʻwah to the disbelievers. So if I have these two deeds on my record till I die; from now on till I die my wealth and my everything will go to those two deeds; and if I ask Allaah, The Exalted, to pardon me with tears, then will Allaah, The Exalted, punish me in the grave and throw me in hellfire for a certain time after I died because of breaking the ties of kinship and ignoring my brothers? We do agree that being the cause of somebody reverting to Islam is better than keeping the ties of kinship, right? I do not say that it replaces keeping the ties of kinship, but it is way better, right? So will Allaah, The Exalted, with this intention that I have and if I die in a state where not just one but multiple disbelievers reverted to islam and I was made the reason by Allaah, The Exalted; will Allaah, The Exalted, not pardon me out of His Mercy and Generosity and Equity?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Both calling non-Muslims to Islam and upholding ties of kinship are religious obligations that the Muslims are enjoined to observe.

About calling to Islam, Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means):

- {And invite (people) to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allaah.} [Quran 28:87]

- {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is (rightly) guided.} [Quran 16:125]

- {And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, (saying): Worship Allaah and avoid Taghoot.} [Quran 16:36]

The well-versed scholar Ibn Baaz said:

"The pieces of evidence from the Quran and Sunnah indicate that it is obligatory to call people to Allaah, The Exalted, and that this is an obligation (Fardh). The evidence for that is abundant, such as the verses in which Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means):

- {And let there be (arising) from you a nation inviting to (all that is) good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.} [Quran 3:104]

- {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best...} [Quran 16:125]

- {And invite (people) to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allaah.} [Quran 28:87]

- {Say: This is my way; I invite to Allaah with insight, I and those who follow me...} [Quran 12:108]

So, Allaah, The Exalted, has explained that the followers of the Messenger are those who call people to Allaah; they are the people of insight. What is required, as is well known, is to follow him and adhere to his way, as Allaah Almighty says (what means): {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allaah often} [Quran 33:21]

Muslim scholars have clearly stated that calling people to Allaah, The Exalted, is a communal obligation with regard to the regions in which the callers live, for every region and area needs Daʻwah and needs people who are active in this field. Therefore, it is a communal obligation; if a sufficient number of people undertake it, the duty is waived from the others, and for the others, Daʻwah becomes a confirmed act of the Sunnah and a great righteous deed.

However, if the people of a specific region or country do not undertake Daʻwah, then the burden of sin is incurred by all of them and it becomes obligatory on all of them; each person must undertake to call people to Islam according to his ability. However, generally speaking, with regard to every country, what is required is that there be a group that is devoted to the mission of calling people to Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, throughout the world, to convey the message of Allaah, and to explain the command of Allaah by all possible means, because the Messenger sent out callers, and he sent letters to people and to kings and rulers, calling them to Allaah, The Exalted."

Likewise, there is numerous pieces of evidence underlining the religious obligation of upholding ties of kinship. For instance, Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said:

"Allaah Almighty created all the creation. When He had finished it, Ar-Rahim (the ties of kinship) rose up. Allaah said, 'Stop!' It said, 'This is the place for anyone seeking refuge with You from being cut off.' Allaah said, 'Are you not content that I should maintain ties with those who maintain ties with you and that I should cut off those who cut you off?' It replied, 'Yes indeed, my Lord.' He said, 'You have that.' He (Abu Hurayrah) added, 'Recite if you wish the verse: {So, would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your (ties of) kinship?}' [Quran 47:22]." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Jubayr ibn Mutʻim narrated that the Prophet said, "The one who severs the ties of kinship would not enter Paradise." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

An-Nawawi wrote:

"Al-Qaadhi ʻIyaadh said, 'There is no difference of opinion among the scholars that upholding ties of kinship is a religious obligation in general and that severing them is a grave sin. There are many ahaadeeth to this effect. However, upholding the ties of kinship is of varying degrees, some of which are higher than others. At the very least, it is not forsaking one another, and upholding ties can be done by speaking, even if it is only by saying Salaam. That varies according to the ability and need. It may be obligatory or recommended. If a person upholds ties to some extent, even if it is not to the fullest extent, then he is not called a severer of ties of kinship, and if he fails to fully do what he is able to do and should do, then he is not called an upholder of the ties of kinship." [Sharh Muslim]

It is possible to do both, call to Allaah and uphold ties of kinship, as reflected in the life of the Prophet and the Companions. They graciously and keenly fulfilled the rights of Allaah as well as the rights of others over them, called people to Islam, and maintained their ties of kinship with their families as due. The Prophet carried out all the Daʻwah duties, upheld the ties of kinship with his family, spent time with all his wives, and checked upon all their needs, and then he would go to the one with whom he would spend that night.

If someone neglected the obligation of maintaining the ties of kinship with his family, then his fate depends on the will of Allaah Almighty, Who may forgive him or punish him as He wills. Allaah, The Exalted, said that He forgives all sins except associating partners with Him: {Indeed, Allaah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allaah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.} [Quran 4:48]

Allaah knows best.