'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, say, "Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, said, 'I
am the Merciful (ar-Rahman). I have created ties of kinship and derives
a name for it from My Name. If anyone maintains ties of kinship, I maintain
connection with him, and I shall cut off anyone who cuts them off.'"
Abu Hurayra said, "A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, and said, 'Messenger of Allah! I have relatives with whom
I maintain ties while they cut me off. I am good to them while they are bad
to me. They behave foolishly towards me while I am forbearing towards them.'
The Prophet said, 'If things are as you said, it is as if you were putting
hot ashes on them and you will not lack a supporter against them from Allah
as long as you continue to do that.'"
Abu'l-'Anbas said, "I visited 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr at al-Waht (some land
of his in Ta'if). He said, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, pointed his finger towards us and said, "Kinship (rahim) us
derived from the All-Merciful (Rahman). When someone maintains the
connections of ties of kinship, they maintain connection with him. If someone
cuts them off, they cut him off. They will have an unfettered, eloquent tongue
on the Day of Rising."'"
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."
