Is the absence of a relationship between me and my paternal uncles, and my infrequent communication with my paternal aunts considered a severing of the ties of kinship? What is my duty to do? Is a phone call or text message sufficient? And what is the appropriate duration for inquiring about them?

Scholars differ on the precise definition of the kin ( رحم ) whose ties must be maintained. The most authoritative view is that it is forbidden to sever ties with unmarriageable kin (ذوي الرحم المحرم), such as brothers, sisters, paternal uncles, paternal aunts, maternal uncles, and maternal aunts. It is disliked to sever ties with marriageable kin (ذوي الرحم غير المحرم), such as the children of paternal uncles and maternal uncles.

You are obligated to maintain ties with your paternal uncles and paternal aunts in a righteous manner. Islamic law has not specified a particular method or extent for maintaining kinship ties. Rather, the reference for this is custom and varying circumstances. Thus, maintaining ties is achieved through visiting, calling, corresponding, greeting, and anything that custom considers to be a form of connection. There are degrees of maintaining ties; the lowest is abandoning abandonment and connecting through speech, even if only with a greeting. This varies according to ability and need, with some forms being obligatory and others recommended. One who maintains some connection but does not achieve its utmost is not called a severer of ties, and one who falls short of what they are capable of is not called a maintainer of ties.