Severing ties with a sinner
QUESTION:-
A scholar recently mentioned that Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal refused to interact with his paternal uncle (Yahya/Ishaq) because he was close to the Sultan. This incident has been used to justify not interacting with blood relations, as these family members are deviant- according to this scholar. Whilst I acknowledge this may be true, is cutting blood-relations based on the above justified, as this contradicts Quran and Sunnah?
ANSWER:-
We haven’t come across the incident of Imaam Ahmad Rahimahullah which you have quoted in your query. However, if the incident is authentic, then we assume that Imaam Ahmad Rahimahullah would have done so due to valid Shari’ee reasons, as it is permitted to sever ties with a fellow Muslim brother on valid Shari’ee grounds. We recite in the Dua-e-Qunoot narrated by Abdullah Bin Masood Radiallahu Anhu:
ونخلع ونترك من يفجرك
And we disassociate and leave those who violate your commands
It is recorded in Umdatul Huffaz on page 204 Vol.3, that we should disassociate and absolve ourselves from those that disobey Allah Ta’ala and deny His promises and warnings.
وفي دعاء القنوت: “ونخلع ونترك من يفجرك” أي من يعصيك ويكذب بوعدك ووعيدك (عمدة الحفاظ ص204 ج3)
However, it is recorded in Anwar-us-Salaah of Hadrat Shah Ahmad Shaheed Rahimahullah, that we should follow our pious predecessors in acting upon this injunction. They wouldn’t cut off ties with those violating the commands of Allah Ta’ala immediately, rather, they would try to correct and reform them in every possible manner with love and affection. However, when the sinner remained adamant in his ways and refused to reform, then they would act upon the above injunction and cut off all relations with him. This was done purely on the basis of Deen. However, if a person later reforms and mends his way, then he would be accepted once again. In conclusion, yes, it is permissible to sever relations on the basis of Deen as explained above, after attempting to reform the sinner in an amicable manner.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 20 Dhul Hijjah 1444 / 09 July 2023