He wants to cut ties of kinship
30-6-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
My brother during a heated argument with the other family members say "I will only come to this house until Mother alive and I do not need brothers and sisters anymore in my life. When I die 4 men is enough to bury me". Can a Muslim with Iman say these things? This person is thinking that he perfect and pure. Please advise with regards to Quran and Hadith.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
There is no doubt that what your brother stated is wrong and it is forbidden for him to do what he had the intention to do, as that cuts the relationship between him and his brothers and sisters. Even if he does not need them, they have still a right upon him. Allah says: "Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight. (Muhammad 47: 22-23)
Cutting relationship with kin is a major sin and whoever does so has to repent to Allah.
Imam Bukhari reported in his Sahih that Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Allah created the creation, and when He finished from His creation the Rahm (kinship) got up, and Allah said (to it).'Stop! What do you want?' It said: 'At this place I seek refuge with You from all those who sever me (i.e. sever the ties of Kinship.)' Allah said: 'Would you be pleased that I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you, and I will sever the relation with the one who will sever the relation with you'. It said: 'Yes, O my Lord'. Allah said (to it). 'That is for you." Then the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: " Read if you want the verse of Allah: "Would you then if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship". [Muhammad 47:22].
It is possible that your brother said this because he was angry, and InshaAllah he will refrain from this soon. We are required to keep good relations with relatives even if we do not need their help. As regards his saying "When I die, 4 men are enough to carry my body and bury me", if he meant that he does not need your help and does not commit you to pray on him (when he will die) then this is wrong, because the greater the number of people who will pray on him, the better.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "When a great number of people pray on a dead person, they will be given the permission to intercede for him." Abu- Al-Maleeh, who is one of the narrator of this Hadith, said 'great number' in the Hadith means 40 persons. Reported by Ahmed and Nassa'i.
Finally, we advise you all to fear Allah, The Most High, and love each other as brothers and sisters, because the bond of kinship among you and the brotherhood in Islam are so great and so important that they should not be spoiled by differences about worldly matters.
Allah knows best.