Is it considered a sin not to communicate with relatives – excluding parents and siblings – and to avoid social interaction, due to an inability to speak, a heavy tongue, and an avoidance of answering the phone, even with love for these relatives and no animosity towards them?

Scholars have differed concerning the kin whose ties must be maintained. The most preponderant opinion is that they are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, grandmothers, children, and their descendants, however far removed, as well as paternal uncles, paternal aunts, maternal uncles, and maternal aunts. It is obligatory to maintain ties with these kin in a manner that is customarily considered 'silah' (maintaining ties). Sin is incurred by whoever falls short in this due to the difficulty of communication, such as embarrassment. One should strive to overcome shyness and fear of facing people by interacting with them and speaking to them spontaneously.