Verily Allah created the universe and when He had finished that, ties of relationship came forward and said This is the place for him who seeks refuge from severing (of blood-relationship). He said: Yes. Are you not satisfied that I should keep relationship with one who joins your ties of relationship and sever it with one who severs your (ties of relationship)? They (the ties of blood) said: Certainly so. Thereupon He said: Well, that is how things are for you. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then said: Recite if you like:" But if you turn away you are sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship. Those it is whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes. Do they not reflect on the Qur'an? Or, are there locks on their hearts?".
The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship - Sahih Muslim 2554
This profound hadith from Sahih Muslim reveals the divine importance Allah places on maintaining kinship ties, depicting them as a fundamental cosmic principle established at creation.
Divine Covenant with Kinship
The narration portrays kinship ties (rahim) as approaching Allah's Throne after creation, seeking protection against severance. This personification elevates kinship to a sacred entity with divine recognition.
Allah's response establishes a reciprocal principle: He maintains relationship with those who uphold kinship ties and severs from those who break them. This demonstrates the direct correlation between human conduct in kinship matters and divine favor.
Quranic Corroboration
The Prophet's instruction to recite Surah Muhammad (47:22-24) connects this teaching directly to Quranic revelation, emphasizing that severing kinship ties constitutes major mischief (fasād) in the land.
The Quranic verses describe the spiritual consequences: divine curse, deafness to truth, and blindness of insight - severe spiritual punishments for those who disregard this fundamental obligation.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that "rahim" (womb/kinship) derives from "rahmah" (mercy), indicating that maintaining family bonds is an act of divine mercy. Severing them removes this mercy from one's life.
The hadith establishes silat al-rahm (joining kinship ties) as both a religious duty and a means of attaining Allah's pleasure, while cutting ties constitutes major sin with severe spiritual consequences in this world and the hereafter.