Merits of the Relatives

s for any word or deed that oppresses the relatives, such as revilement, backbiting, alienation, and deprivation of feelings of sympathy. According to the Islamic Sharia, it is a grand sin threatened with punishment:

“If you ignore the commands of Allah would you then also spread evil in the land and sever the ties of kinship? (47:22).”

“Those who break their established covenant with Him and the relations He has commanded to be kept and spread evil in the land are the ones who lose a great deal. (2:27)”

The Prophet (s) said: “Four matters are the quickest in punishment: to recompense the favor with mistreatment, to trespass him who does not show hostility, to break the faith of the party who keeps up his faith, and to rupture the relations with the relatives who regard you properly.” ( 10 )

Imam al-Baqir (a) said that the following statements are recorded in Ali’s book: “The bearers of three ill manners will not die before they suffer the consequence of them: oppression, disregard of the relatives, and perjury against Allah. The reward of regard of the relatives is the most hastened. Even the sinful people will be enriched and wealthy when they regard each other (by means of good mutual relations). Perjury and disregard of the relatives change countries into deserted wastelands and cut off the progeny.” ( 11 )

One of the companions narrated that he, once, told Imam as-Sadiq (a) that his brothers and cousins had dismissed him from his house and that they would beat him if he disputed with them.

Imam as-Sadiq (a) said to him: “Be patient. Allah will surely relieve you.”

The man was sufficed with these words; hence, he left.

In the year 131, people were affected by plague, and the man’s brothers and cousins were within its victims. When the man visited Imam as-Sadiq (a), he asked him about their manners. He told of their death. The Imam (a) said: “That was certainly the punishment for what they had done to you when they disregarded their relative. Do you wish were they alive even if they would mistreat you?” The man answered: “Yes, I do.” ( 12 )

• Shuaib al-Aqarqoufi narrated that Ya’qoub al-Maghzili, once, visited Imam al-Kadhim (a) who said to him: “Ya’qoub, you and your friend were engaged in disagreement in a place yesterday, and you reviled at each other. My fathers’ and my religion does no t accept such deeds. We, likewise, do not order any of such ethics. Hence, you should fear Allah alone. Death will separate you from your friend who will die during his journey before he arrives in his town. You will be sorry for your revilement at him. Because you have disregarded each other, Allah will cut off your ages.”

The man asked: “What about my time of death?”

The Imam answered: “Because you regarded your aunt, twenty years were added to your age.”

(Shuaib commented) After some time, the man told me that his friend had died during his journey. ( 13 )

1. Quoted from Nahj ul-Balagha.

2. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 93 (as quoted from al-Kafi).

3. Quoted from Bihar ul-Anwar; Kitab ul-Ashara page 27 (as quoted from Uyounu Akhbar ir-Ridha and Sahifat ur-Ridha).

4. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 94 (as quoted from al-Kafi).

5. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 94 (as quoted from al-Kafi).

6. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 94 (as quoted from al-Kafi).

7. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 94 (as quoted from al-Kafi).

8. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 94 (as quoted from al-Kafi).

9. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 94 (as quoted from al-Kafi).