Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and grant him peace, said, "Allah Almighty created creation. When He had
finished it, ties of kinship rose up. Allah said, 'Stop!' They said, 'This
is the place for anyone seeking refuge with You from being cut off' Allah
said, 'Are you not content that I should maintain connections with the one
who maintains connection with you and I should cut off the one who cuts you
off?' It replied, 'Yes indeed, my Lord.' He said, 'You have that.'"
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari told him that a bedouin came to the Prophet, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was travelling. He asked, "Tell
me what will bring me near to the Garden and keep me far from the Fire."
He replied, "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, perform
the prayer, pay zakat, and maintain ties of kinship."
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas spoke about the ayat, "Give your relatives their
due, and the very poor and travellers" (17:26), and said, "He
begins by commanding the most pressing of the obligatory dues and He directs
us to the best action if we have any money. He says:
'Give your relatives
their due, and the very poor and travellers.' He also teaches us what we
can say if we have nothing. He says, 'But if you do turn away from them,
seeking the mercy you hope for from your Lord, then speak to them with words
that bring them ease' (17:28) in the form of an excellent promise. Things
are as they are, but they might change if Allah wills. 'Do not keep your
hand chained to your neck' and not give anything, 'but do not extend
it either to its full extent' and give all you have, 'so that you
sit there blamed' as those who come to you later and find you have nothing
will blame you, 'and destitute.' (17:29)" He said, "The person to
whom you have given everything has made you destitute."
Abu Hurayra said, "When the following ayat was revealed ('Warn
your near relatives' (26:214)), the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, stood up and called out, saying, 'Banu Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy!
Save yourselves from the Fire! Banu 'Abdu Manaf! Save yourselves from the
Fire! Banu Hashim! Save yourselves from the Fire! Banu 'Abdu'l-Muttalib!
Save yourselves from the Fire! Fatima, daughter of Muhammad! Save yourselves
from the Fire! I do not have anything for you in respect to Allah except
for the fact that you have ties of kinship.'"
