Paying visits to relatives
Imam Baqir (PBUH) also says “meeting relatives and being good to neighbors increases wealth.”[1]
The same great Imam says “meeting relatives makes your good deeds flourishing, increases properties, prevents accidents, eases being judged on the Judgment Day, and delays death.”[2]
Breaking family relations on the other hand will have devastating effects on your life in this world and horrible punishments in the other.
In a tradition, the great Prophet (PBUH) says “Gabriel told me the odor of paradise could be smelled for a thousand years distance but three groups wont smell it: those disowned by parents, those breaking relations with relatives, and an old man who commits adultery.”[3]
As these beautiful words show these groups not only do not enter the paradise but won’t get near it.
What is the meaning of paying visits to relatives? The meaning is to keep a lovely bound so they support each other and do not forget one another in different situations and act accordingly. A simple call or greetings could do part of this in certain situations.
Imam Ali (PBUH) says “do meet relatives even with simple greetings”. [4]
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Notes:
[1] Bahar al-Anvar, vol. 71, p. 97
[2] Bahar al-Anvar, vol. 71, p. 111
[3] Maani al-Akhbar, narrating from Bahar al-Anvar, vol. 71, p. 95, tradition 26
[4] Osul Kafi Bahar narrated by al-Anvar, vol. 71, p. 126
