Question:
Asalam, ulakum,
What does Islam say about family members who are evil and greedy? Do you need to speak to them when only they make you angry and push you away from Islam? When I am away from them I feel more at ease and closer to Allah.
My father’s brother and his family are liars and cheated people of money and became very rich. He lied about me to the community and family. I told him not to call my house anymore, as I do not like it when he calls and lies about everything. He has no respect for his mother or brothers. My mother is worried about what he is saying about me. I have said, “Allah knows the truth so you don’t need to answer to people about me”.
What can we do?
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
The emphasis of keeping ties is with father and mother, brothers and sisters, but less so with farther relatives, so you do not have the same obligation toward the latter. However, the hidden blessing is that the bigger the test the more efficient the stairwell to success here and hereafter. Patience and forbearance (forgiveness) are a cleansing of your faults, add to your good deeds, and earn you high stations, more than if you had done such and such years of worship and fasting.
وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ لَمِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ
{And verily whoso is patient and forgives – behold! that, truly, is of the steadfast heart of things} Surat ash-Shura 42:43
Hajj Gibril Haddad
