for he will find the outcome of his patience praiseworthy, earn the greater merit in the matter, and remain largely unaffected by his brother’s conduct.

Harmony Brings Blessing

Know that I have seen groups who possessed neither means nor standing, yet their harmony and mutual support established their fortunes and elevated their standing. I have also seen groups whose standing was lofty and whose fortunes were flourishing, yet their discord obliterated their fortunes and brought their standing low. Beware lest you become like them.

Maintaining Ties of Kinship

You must also maintain ties with your paternal cousins and families, honor them, and remain in contact with young and old alike. Share your wealth and circumstances with them, persevere in exchanging gifts with them, visit them regularly, attend to their affairs, show deference to their elders and compassion toward their young, strive to increase the wealth of those among them who are prosperous, conceal their faults, and meet their needs without demanding recompense or expecting anything in return. Through this, you will attain prominence within your clan and be held in esteem by your families.

Maintain your ties of kinship even when their bonds are weak, and draw close those relatives who have grown distant. Strive to fulfill the rights arising from those ties, and beware of neglecting them. It has been related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever wishes to have his lifespan prolonged and his provision expanded should maintain his ties of kinship.”

This is among the practices that ennoble those who observe them and make those who hold them in high esteem great in the eyes of others. I have never known a family whose members severed relations and turned their backs on one another without their perishing and dying out. Nor