withhold the salām from him he will come to his senses and set his affairs right; in that case, the boycott is a useful remedy.

As for severing ties—that is, breaking the bond between you and your brother—your believing brother has a right over you that you maintain relations with him, and it is unlawful for you to cut him off, for he is your brother even when he is disobedient. For that very reason a person honors his neighbor even if that neighbor is a sinner, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor.” So honor him even if he is sinning, but at the same time advise him.

Some people cut off their relatives because those relatives have cut them off or because they are engaged in sin, and this is a mistake. Keep in touch with your relatives even if they are sinners; uphold the tie even if they cut you off. A man once came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives: I maintain ties with them yet they sever me, I treat them well yet they treat me badly, I am patient with them…”—and he added another complaint. The Prophet replied, “If what you say is true, it is as though you are feeding them hot ashes.”

In other words, it is as though you are pouring burning ashes or scalding dust into their hearts. Therefore, keep up those ties even if they break with you, insult you, or wrong you, for the one who maintains relations only when the other party reciprocates is not truly upholding kinship; he is merely repaying a favor.

Turning away (tadābur) is likewise impermissible between believers. Does the prohibition concern the heart, the body, or both? It concerns both. Do not turn away in your heart; even if you sense that your brother’s heart has turned from you, draw nearer to him and reach out: “Repel [evil] with that which is better; then the one between whom and you there was enmity will become as though he were a devoted friend” (Fussilat 34).