Chapter on Righteousness and Family Bonds

1265 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever would like his provision to be expanded and his lifespan prolonged, let him maintain the ties of kinship.” Recorded by al-Bukhari (1).

Lexical notes:
– man aḥabba: man is a conditional particle that renders the verb jussive; aḥabba is the conditional verb, and its apodosis is falyasil raḥimahu.
– an yubsaṭa lahu fī rizqihi: the verb is in the passive and means “to be broadened.” Al-Nawawī said that its broadening denotes abundance. Rizqihi (his provision) is a verbal noun used with the sense of the thing provided.
– an yunsāʾ: also passive, pronounced with a ḍamma on the initial yāʾ, followed by a quiescent nūn, then a sīn, then a hamzah. It comes from insāʾ, meaning deferment; an with the verb functions as a direct object.
– atharahu: with two fatḥahs, the verbal noun of athara on the pattern faʿala (as in qatala). It denotes his allotted term, the remainder of his life; the appointed time is called athar because it follows the lifetime.
– falyasil raḥimahu: an imperative to uphold the ties of kinship. Ṣilah is the verbal noun of waṣala, the opposite of cutting off (qaṭʿ). Ṣilat al-raḥim is a figurative expression for beneficence toward one’s blood relatives or in-laws—showing them generosity, kindness, and care.