Is it forbidden to boycott a father who has abandoned my mother, does not speak to her, and does not eat or sit with us, and what should I do to fix the situation?

Reconciling between disputing parties is a noble act in Islam, especially between spouses, due to its impact on the home and children. You must not sever your relationship with your father, as that is forbidden and intensifies estrangement. To mend relations between your parents, follow these steps:

1. Humbly and sincerely supplicate to Allah to reconcile them, especially during the last third of the night while prostrating. 2. Appoint two wise and righteous arbiters, one from your father's family and one from your mother's, to mediate between them. Allah (the Most High) says: (And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbiter from his people and an arbiter from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause agreement between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things].) An-Nisa/ 35. 3. Remind your father of the virtues of forgiveness and pardon, and the effect of reconciliation on the atmosphere of the home and children, citing verses such as: (And that you pardon is nearer to righteousness.) Al-Baqarah/ 237, and (And those who restrain anger and who pardon people) Al 'Imran/ 134. 4. Remind him of the impermissibility of abandoning or ceasing to greet without a valid excuse. 5. There is no objection to lying for the sake of reconciliation, by conveying to your mother your father's love for her and vice versa. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (He is not a liar who reconciles between people, conveying good or saying good).