Tradition

اَلْقَريْبُ مَنْ قَرَّبَتْهُ الْمَوَدَّةُ وَ إنْ بَعُدَ نَسَبُهُ وَ الْبَعيدُ مَنْ باعَدَتْهُ الْمَوَدَةُ وَ إِنْ قَرُبَ نَسَبُهُ

Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (‘a) is narrated to have said: “One’s close relatives are those who have the most love for you, even if they are far in lineage. And the far relatives are those who have less love and affection for you, even if they are from your close relatives.”1

Brief Commentary

The relationship between relatives is one of the most important social institutions in Islam. Such relationships are comprised of tighter knit groups in the society where cooperation can extend to a higher and greater degree than in the society overall. This relationship is instrumental in the resolution of problems that come up from time to time. This tradition has emphasized that these relationships must in reality be based on love and affection and not only on simple lineage and family blood.

• 1. Taken from the book: hTuhaf al-’Uqul, p. 165, Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 643, Wasa'il Al-Shi’a, vol. 12, p. 52.