What is the religious ruling regarding a husband whose father passed away, and he wishes to work with his paternal uncles after a 12-year estrangement, knowing that his mother refuses this and threatens him with a rupture if he works with them, and that both parties (the paternal uncles and the husband's mother) had a role in the original problem?

The husband did well by ending the severance of ties with his paternal uncles, as cutting off kinship ties is among the major sins. If he had cut them off in obedience to his mother, then he has done wrong, for there is no obedience to a creature in disobedience to the Creator. If the work his uncle invited him to is permissible and he desires it, then there is no harm in him joining it, and he is not obligated to obey his mother, unless she has a vested interest or fears harm upon him. He should strive to convince his mother, and if she is not convinced, then there is no harm in working without her knowledge to avert her anger. If he prefers his mother's satisfaction by not working with his uncle, then he must remain in contact with his paternal uncles because severance of ties is impermissible, and he should strive to maintain a harmonious relationship between his mother and his paternal uncles.