–rehmi) ties by both the man and his family and the woman and her family. If the newly-wedded couples and both sets of in-laws realise all these matters, family life can be a cradle of love, affection and peace.”Addressing Ahmadi ladies with reference to the significance of showing good conduct to relatives, Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) said:
“Then there is good conduct with relatives. This is a very important matter. Some relationships break up on trivial issues depriving one of the opportunities given by Allah the Exalted to earn reward for doing good. I have seen that generally speaking if the virtue of good conduct with relatives is practiced there is no question of any kind of mutual acrimonies or badness to develop. There would be no break up of families, conflicts between husband and wife, quarrels between sisters-in-law and mother-in-law or daughter-in-law clashes. It should be the practice of true believing women who develop in virtues to also be mindful of their relationships.”
(Address delivered on 17 September 2011 at the Lajna Ijtema Germany)
Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) expounded the Islamic teaching on taking care of relatives and also spoke on the marital problems arising from not abiding by it. Huzoore Anwer said:
“Allah the Exalted enjoins us to look after one’s relatives and be kind to them. This kindness will help establish societal peace and security.
“Close relatives include all familial ties from your father’s side and your mother’s side. Then there are familial ties of the wife and the husband. It is the obligation of both husband and wife to fulfil the rights of each other’s familial relations and to respect them and instil good feelings for them in their heart. In short, [they should give them] all the rights that they like to have for their own familial relations, the relations with whom you are on good terms. This is because even in close family ties there can arise problems and close family relations can become fractured. This is why Allah the Exalted enjoins kindness to close relations, not only with those with whom you get on and whom you like but also those whom you do not like and whose nature does not match your type. Thus kind treatment is enjoined with all close relatives, as I just said not only with those with whom you get on, rather with everyone. In fact the commandment of kindness is not just for your own close relatives; for the man it entails his wife’s relatives and for the woman it entails her husband’s close relatives. This is the treatment which would propagate peace and security along with Allah’s message of peace and security.”
(Friday sermon delivered on 1 June 2007 at Baitul Futuh London)
In his Friday sermon of 2 July 2004 Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) said the following on the same subject:
“I will give one example from the countless examples of the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) kindness towards the relations and friends of his wives.
“It is narrated that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) heard the voice of Halah, sister of Hazrat Khadija, he used to stand up to greet her and welcome her cheerfully saying, ‘Khadija’s sister Halah is here.’ When an animal was slaughtered at home, it was his custom to have some of the meat sent to friends of Hazrat Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). (Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Fadha’il, Babu Min fadha’ile Khadeeja)
“Let me clarify something here, some things are brought to attention and for this reason I shall clarify them. Because men and women have started to mix more in society, no one should assume from this that permission has been given to men to sit in assemblies of women and they are free to sit with the friends of their wives. Being considerate is something completely different and it is another thing to forge friendships. This creates inappropriate situations. There are many instances where the wife is pushed aside and her friend takes on the place of the wife. The man once again can resume his worldly affairs but the poor first wife is left crying! This is patently unfair and Islam has certainly not allowed this. They say, we are permitted to marry (more than once)! Here, in these societies, special care should be taken. Try and understand your responsibilities. Take care of the wife who has lived with you during hard times. To abandon her when your situation improves by coming here [the West], is not justice in any sense.”
(Friday sermon delivered on 2 July 2004 at International Centre, Mississauga, Canada)
Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) announced six nikahs in Germany. Huzoore Anwer said the following in the nikah sermon:
“Every Ahmadi who is a real Muslim should always keep in view that marriage is a bond and is something that becomes a religious obligation in a way, and it is very important to pay the dues of wives and close familial (–rehmi) ties by both the man and his family and the woman and her family. If the newly-wedded couples and both sets of in-laws realise all these matters, family life can be a cradle of love, affection and peace.”
(18 June 2011 Nikah sermon delivered at Masjid Baitul Sabuh, Frankfurt, Germany. Publishsed in Al Fazl International 5 August 2011)