Does shariah laws saw that I have to be in contact with my grandmother and other relatives as well other than my father?

My mother was divorced when I was an infant and she was pregnant with my brother. My brother and I have lived with our mother ever since and have no contact with my father or any of his family members.

A few years ago I took my mother for Hajj and there our groups leader said in a bayan that according to hadiths people who do qataa taaluq wont have their hajj’s accepted.Also that qataa taaluq is a major sin.

My mother asked me to call my father from there and talk to him so that I dont do qataa taaluq and our ameer told us that even if he failed to perfom his faraidh regarding my brother and I, I still have to perfom my faraidh regarding him as he is my father.

Alhamdulillah I took our ameer’s advice called him told him that he may contact me if he ever needed anything and asked him to pray for me too. After that I performed hajj with my mother and came back home and have never heard from him since.

Recently I heard through a relative that my grandmother is very sick, my mother wanted me to call or visit her as she is my grandmother.

Now that you know a little history my question is that is it necessary for me to go meet her or call her?

Does shariah laws saw that I have to be in contact with my grand mother and other relatives as well other than my father?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Brother in Islām,

Maintaining family ties is highly encouraged in Islām. It is necessary for a person to maintain family ties with all relatives. However, the extant of maintaining family ties varies according the closeness of the relative.[1] You should keep in contact with your grandmother and your father’s relatives. Consider the following Ahādīth:

عن ميمونةَ زوج النبيَّ – صلَّى الله عليه وسلم – قالت: كانتْ لي جاريةٌ فأعتقتُها، فدخلَ عليَّ النبي – صلَّى الله عليه وسلم – فأخبرتُه، فقال: “آجرَكِ اللهُ، أما إنك لو كنتِ أعطيتِها أخوالَكِ كان أعظَم لأجرِك[2] 

Maymūna (Allah be pleased with her) I had a slave girl who freed, so when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon) entered, he told me, “Allah reward you. However, if you were to gift it to your uncles it would be more meritorious.

عن أنس، قال: قال رسولُ الله – صلَّى الله عليه وسلم -: “مَنْ سَرَّهُ أن يُبسطَ عليه في رِزقه، ويُنسَأَ في أثره، فَليَصِل رَحِمَه

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon) say: He who is desirous that his means of sustenance should be expanded for him or his age may be lengthened, should join the tie of relationship.[3]

عن عبد الرحمن بن عوف، قال: سمعتُ رسولَ الله – صلَّى الله عليه وسلم – يقول: “قال الله تعالى: أنا الرحمن، وهي الرحم، شققتُ لها اسماً مِن اسمِي، مَنْ وَصَلها وَصَلتُه، ومَنْ قَطَعَها بتتُّه

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf mentions, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon) say: Allah the Exalted has said: I am Compassionate, and this has been derived from mercy. I have derived its name from My name. If anyone joins it, I shall join him, and if anyone cuts it off, I shall cut him off.[4]

While maintaining family ties is emphasized in Sharī‘ah, to stay away from fitnah is also emphasized. We do understand that maintaining family ties could be challenging. We advise you to be cautious and diplomatic in your approach and conduct in maintaining family ties.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Muntasir Zaman

Student Darul Iftaa
USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.