Am I obligated to maintain ties with relatives who mistreated my family and cut off communication with us, despite my fear of repeated humiliation and my not knowing their whereabouts?

The fear of Allah motivates one to uphold ties of kinship, because severing them is a major sin. The mentioned obstacles are not an excuse for cutting off ties of kinship, for the Quran and Sunnah emphasize the obligation of maintaining these ties and the prohibition of severing them, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "No severer of kinship ties will enter Paradise."

Firstly: Old family problems are not an excuse, for "no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another."

Secondly: The indifference of relatives due to social status is not an excuse, nor does it justify retaliation. Allah Almighty says: "Repel [evil] with that which is better."

Thirdly: The insult of some of them towards the parent is not an excuse, for maintaining ties is the fulfillment of a right required by Islamic law.

Fourthly: Their not visiting is not an excuse, for the one who maintains ties is not the one who reciprocates, but rather "the one who, when his ties of kinship are severed, reconnects them."

Fifthly: The fear of insult is not an excuse, for an obligation is not waived by mere suspicion. Even if the insult occurs, it does not nullify the essential obligation of maintaining ties. The matter revolves between seeking a concession by abandoning avenues of connection that lead to insult, or showing resolve by maintaining ties with them and exercising patience.

It is obligatory to strive to remove obstacles and reconcile disputes, and to know their addresses in order to fulfill the obligatory ties.