There is a connection that if we connect, Allah will also connect His love to us. And there is one relationship that if we break it, we will cut off the immeasurable blessings of life. It is friendship, a term that is so familiar to the ear, but sometimes so difficult to carry out.
Maintaining relationships with others, especially those who have hurt you, requires a broad-mindedness that not everyone possesses. However, if we are willing to delve into the ocean of Divine guidance, we will discover that kinship is not merely a moral teaching, but rather the primary foundation for establishing blessings in this world and salvation in the afterlife.
Allah SWT, in His great Word, commands us to fear Him, and in the same breath, commands us to continue our relationship of friendship. This shows how close the vertical relationship with Allah and the horizontal relationship with fellow creatures cannot be separated. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا God willing God willing عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
“"O people! Fear your Lord who created you from one person (Adam), and (Allah) created his partner (Eve) from (himself); and from the two of them Allah gave birth to many men and women. Fear Allah in whose name you ask each other, and (maintain) family relationships (silaturahim). Indeed, Allah always guards and watches over you."” (QS. An-Nisa: 1)
Imam Ibn Kathir in his interpretation he explains that the meaning wal-ar-ḥām This verse commands us to strengthen family ties. God reminds us that we all descend from the same ancestors, Adam and Eve.
Therefore, severing ties with one's own siblings, especially those who are blood relatives, is essentially severing the bond that God Himself commanded to be rekindled. Furthermore, God watches our every effort, whether we seek to maintain that bond or destroy it.
This verse also teaches a noble etiquette in speaking. In some Arab societies, when they ask each other for something, they say, “"I ask Allah, then I ask you for the sake of kinship."” So God teaches that supplication through kinship is a noble thing. If humans are honored in this way, how can we possibly neglect these relationships?
Allah then reaffirmed who is entitled to receive guarantees from Him. Letter ar-Ra'd, Allah explains about those who fulfill their promises to Allah and do not break their agreements, then He mentions one of their main characteristics:
love وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ
“"And those who connect what Allah has commanded to be connected, and they fear their Lord and fear bad reckoning."” (QS. Ar-Ra'd: 21)
The interpreter, including Imam Al-Qurthubi, stated that the meaning mā amarallāhu bihī an yūṣala includes many things: faith in the Prophets, relationship with Allah through worship, and most importantly, friendship.
This verse illustrates that true believers are those who always strive to establish and connect what Allah commands, even when it's difficult. They fear that if the relationship is severed, a terrible reckoning awaits. This is both a warning and a motivation to never tire of being a connector, not a breaker.
Allah even associates the blessings of sustenance and life with relationships. In a hadith qudsi, Allah said through the words of the Prophet ﷺ:
Words: Words: Words وَصَلَكِ وَصَلْتُهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَكِ قَطَعْتُهُ
“"Rahim (kinship) comes from Ar-Rahman (Allah, the Most Merciful). So Allah says: 'Whoever connects you, I will definitely connect him (with My mercy). And whoever cuts you off, I will definitely cut him off (from My mercy).'‘”"” (Narrated by Bukhari)
Subhanallah, in this hadith Allah refers to the womb as something that "depends" on His name, Ar-Rahman. This shows great glory. Al-Hafizh Ibn Hajar in Fathul Bari explains that the meaning “"Syijnah"” is a kinship relationship that is established because it comes from one origin, and it has a special connection with the nature of Allah's love.
Whoever connects it, Allah will connect it with goodness in this world and the hereafter. Whoever decides, Allah will decide various good things from him. So, friendship is not just a customary matter, it is a heavenly affair with a real impact on life.
Rasulullah ﷺ, as an explainer of the Qur'an, gave such beautiful details about the primacy of friendship. He said in a very popular hadith:
مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ، وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ، فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ
“"Whoever wants to expand his fortune and prolong his life, then let him connect ties of friendship."” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
We often hear this hadith, but sometimes we forget that "lengthening one's life" can be interpreted as blessings of time, so that a short time feels enough to do a lot of good. Imam An-Nawawi in Sahih Muslim's Commentary explains that the meaning yunsa'a lahū fī aṡarihī is blessed in his age, and helped to utilize his life in obedience, maintaining good relationships with family, and his good impact will be remembered after he is gone. Silaturahim apparently provides not only material benefits such as sustenance, but also lasting spiritual benefits.
In another hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ describes how great the position of people who maintain friendship is before Allah. He said:
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing. Words: Words: Words مِنَ الْقَطِيعَةِ. قَالَ: نَعَمْ، أَمَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ أَصِلَ مَنْ وَصَلَكِ، وَأَقْطَعَ مَنْ قَطَعَكِ؟ قَالَتْ: بَلَى. قَالَ: فَذَاكِ لَكِ
“"Indeed, Allah created creatures. After completion, the womb (kinship relationship) arose, saying: 'This is the place of those who seek refuge in You from termination (of relationship).' Allah says: 'Yes, are you not willing that I will connect those who connect you and cut off those who disconnect you?' Rahim replied: 'Yes, I am willing.' Allah says: 'That is your right.'‘”"” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
This hadith depicts a sublime dialogue between God and the womb. The womb holds a special place in God's sight. It is a witness for those who protect it and an adjudicator for those who sever it. This is a stark warning that severing ties of kinship is not merely a social sin, but a sin that directly incurs God's wrath.
In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) firmly stated that those who break ties of kinship will not enter Paradise. This is a very strong warning. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, from Jubair ibn Mut'im, he said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ قَاطِعُ رَحِمٍ
“"No one who breaks off ties of kinship will enter heaven."”
Imam An-Nawawi explained that the meaning of this hadith is a threat to those who sever ties of kinship without a justifiable reason. This indicates that the sin of severing kinship ties is a major sin that can bar a person from Paradise, or at least prevent them from entering Paradise with those who first enter it. This threat will be realized if they allow it. In essence, it is a very serious sin.
So, what is the definition of friendship itself? Friend of Abu Hurairah may Allah be pleased with him It is narrated that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives, and I keep in touch with them, but they cut me off. I treat them well, but they treat me badly. I am patient with them, but they treat me foolishly." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لَئِنْ كُنْتَ كَمَا قُلْتَ، فَكَأَنَّمَا تُسِفُّهُمُ God willing مَا دُمْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ
“"If you are true as you say, then it will be as if you sprinkle hot dust on their faces (those who decide on you). And Allah will always help you defeat them as long as you are on the truth."” (Narrated by Muslim)
In this hadith, the Prophet gave good news to those who continue to try to continue their friendship even though it has been cut off. Allah will be his helper. Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Utsaimin He explained that true kinship is not a reciprocal relationship, but rather one where someone maintains a relationship even after being severed. Because if the relationship is good from both sides, that's called reciprocation, not kinship. The pinnacle of kinship is when you do good to someone who has done you harm.
In this fast-paced world, silaturahim is often reduced to simply saying "happy holidays" once a year or simply liking something on social media. Yet, its essence is much deeper. Silaturahim is about being present, about paying attention, about asking how someone is doing, about forgiving mistakes, and about being the reason someone feels less alone in this world. It's about extending a hand even though it's been bitten, and opening a door even though it's been closed.
We may have experienced the bitterness of severing ties with our own siblings. A once-bustling home becomes silent. A dinner table filled with laughter becomes empty. And deep within, a gaping hole awaits a word of peace. Islam comes to fill that space with boundless love. It teaches us that forgiveness and reconnecting are not signs of weakness, but rather courage possessed only by those who believe in God's promises.
Take a moment to look at our heart's diary. Are there names we've intentionally erased because of heartache? Are there phone calls we've stopped answering because of ego? Is there a parent's house we've rarely visited because of our endless busyness?
Remember, Allah calls the womb something that depends on His name. When we connect it, we are holding the thread of God's love. And as long as the thread doesn't break, so long grace and blessings will flow in our lives.
So, let's pick up the threads of love that may have long been lost. Because in truth, friendship It is the breath of life that makes this world still worth living in, and heaven something worth hoping for.
And Allah knows best
