He mentioned the bonds among human beings that arise from creation and are established by divine law, such as parentage, and those that are acquired and established by stipulation, such as marriage. Then He said:

“Fear Allah, in whose name you ask one another, and be mindful of the ties of kinship.”

A group of early Quranic commentators explained “in whose name you ask one another” as meaning: “In whose name you enter into covenants and contracts.” This is indeed as they said, for each party to a contract of sale, marriage, truce, or any other agreement asks the other for what he seeks. One requests delivery of the goods sold, and the other requests payment of the price. Each has undertaken to provide what the other seeks. Thus, each makes a request of the other and undertakes to fulfil the other’s request.

Then He said:

“And the ties of kinship.”

Covenants and ties of kinship together encompass all the bonds between human beings. These bonds arise either through Allah’s action or through their own actions. The former are ties of kinship, and the latter are covenants. Allah therefore mentions them together in several places, as in His words:

“They observe neither ties of kinship nor covenant toward a believer.”

Here, ill means kinship and blood ties, while dhimma means a covenant or solemn pledge. Allah Most High also says near the beginning of al-Baqara:

“Those who break Allah’s covenant after it has been confirmed and sever what Allah has commanded to be maintained.”

And He says:

“Those who fulfil Allah’s covenant and do not break the solemn pledge, and those who maintain what Allah has commanded to be maintained,”

up to His words:

“And those who break Allah’s covenant after it has been confirmed and sever what Allah has commanded to be maintained.”

Know that Allah’s right is included in both kinds of rights and takes precedence over them. Hence He mentioned it first in His words:

“Fear your Lord, who created you.”

Allah created the servant, created his parents, and created him from his parents. The bond between him and Allah is thus the complete bond of creation, unlike his bond with his parents. The original substance from which he is made comes from them, but he also has substance from other sources. Moreover, they did not shape him in the womb. The servant has no source of bodily substance other than