ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Ahlul-Bayt; Ethical Role-Models Rights of the Relatives Merits of the Relatives Relatives are the family to whom one belongs. Man’s relatives are the most similar, affectionate, and helpful. Describing the relatives, Amirul-Mu'minin (a) said: “Man, though wealthy, cannot dispense with his clan. He is in need for their defending him with hands and tongues.

They are one’s greatest backers, best reuniters, and most affectionate when a misfortune befalls[^1].” The best relatives are those who love, sympathize, and cooperate with one another for achieving their goals and interests. For its elevated social rank and great influence on reforming the Islamic society, the Islamic Sharia has paid the greatest attention to the family affairs.

Regard of Relatives The leading moral principles on which the Islamic Sharia has imposed and confirmed is the regard of relatives by means of showing kindness, rendering material aid, protecting against misfortunes, and participating in sorrow and joy: The Prophet (S) said: “I advise every present and absent individual of my umma, including those who are in their fathers’ spines and mothers’ wombs up to the Day of Resurrection I advise all these to regard their relatives, even if the way to them takes one hundred year walking.

Regard of the relatives is part of the religion[^2].” “He who is pleased if Allah adds to his age and increases his sustenance must regard his relatives.

On the Day of Resurrection, the family relation will say with glib accent: O Lord, regard him who regarded his relatives and disregard him who disregarded his relatives[^3].” “Warrant for me one and I warrant for you four: warrant for me that you regard your relatives and I warrant for you that Allah will love you, increase your sustenance, add to your age, and take you to the promised Paradise[^4].” Imam al-Baqir (a) said: “Regard of the relatives purifies the deeds, increases the wealth, repels misfortunes, makes the Judgment easier, and postpones the deadline of life[^5].” Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “We do not know anything that adds to the age like regard of the relatives.

It happens that a man whose age is decided to be three years may add to it thirty years if he regards his relatives. Hence, his age become thirty-three. A man whose age is decided to be thirty-three years may decrease to three years if he disregards his relatives[^6].” “Regard your relatives even by serving them a drink of water.