Who are the relatives whose visitation is obligatory, and how often should they be visited to avoid severing ties, and is a phone call sufficient, and what about relatives who are not customarily visited due to superficial relationships, unwelcoming attitudes, or inability to offer gifts?
Kinship ties are divided into two categories: those with whom marriage is prohibited (), such as brothers and paternal uncles. Maintaining ties with them is obligatory, and severing them is forbidden. The second category consists of those with whom marriage is not prohibited (non-mahram), such as paternal and maternal cousins. Maintaining ties with them is commendable, and severing them is disliked. The means of maintaining ties are numerous and are not limited to visiting and giving gifts; rather, they include everything that achieves connection and negates severance according to custom, such as greeting, even if by phone. The has not specified a particular type or quantity for maintaining ties; rather, it has left that to people's customs. The minimum is that you are not considered a severer of kinship ties according to custom. Any previous shortcomings in maintaining kinship ties should be remedied as much as possible without undue burden, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The one who maintains ties is not the one who reciprocates, but the one who maintains ties is he who, when his relatives cut him off, he connects with them."
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Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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