What is the ruling on maintaining ties of kinship with a relative who dislikes and does not desire visits, and treats one with extreme coldness, even though the kinship ties have only ever produced goodness and kindness? And do these ties of kinship remain obligatory in this situation?

Maintaining ties of kinship (silat ar-rahim) is obligatory, and severing them is forbidden. There are various means of maintaining these ties. If visiting causes embarrassment, then it is permissible to maintain kinship ties through other means. For one who patiently endures the harshness of relatives and maintains ties with them through visits, that is among the greatest acts of proximity (to Allah). Responding to ill-treatment with kindness may remove rancor and restore harmony, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿Repel [evil] with that which is better; then abruptly your enemy will be as if he were a devoted friend.﴾ Therefore, it is advised to strive for reconciliation and remove the causes of estrangement, because affection and love are among the requirements of Islamic brotherhood, and this is especially emphasized in the case of relatives.