The institution of family is one of the most sacred of establishments to mankind from a human as well as from a moral and religious perspective.

No one can dispute the value and superiority of blood relations which unite two individuals together as they recognize that the blood which run through their veins is the same and the genes which they share come from the same origin.

It is a feeling of belonging which gives rise to an innate attachment to such person whom you consider as "family". Unlike other types of relations in which some may give with the expectation of return, family members typically express their love and serve each other spontaneously to any length without expecting compensation or reward.

Islam has strongly emphasized the great importance of maintaining relations with our relatives and kin and Allah (swt) has stated in the Holy Quran: "O Mankind! Fear your Lord who created you from one soul and created from it it's mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women and fear Allah through whom you ask one another and the wombs, indeed Allah is ever over you An Observer" (4:1).

He also emphasized in Surat Ar-Ra'd, (Verse 21), "Those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e. they are good to their relatives and do not cut the bond of kinship)" and in Surat Al-Israa' (Verse 26), "And give to the kindred his due..."

Unfortunately, cutting relations with family and relatives have been a major problem and this matter is taken lightly by many of us.

We often find two brothers living within the same radius of proximity, yet they barely meet or pick up the phone to ask about each other. Some of us severe relations simply because our sibling married their son off to another person instead of our own daughter.

Financial and inheritance related dispute is yet another common cause for conflicts within the family. In many cases, the cause of the conflict is petty and minor; however, inappropriate and hurtful words exchanged between the two, coupled with the arrogance and ego problem contribute to the prolonged severed relation among relatives.

However, Islam highly encourages us to extend our hand for peace to maintain relations even if the cause of dispute is not our fault and even if we did not commit injustice to our brother or sister.

When a man came to Prophet (saw) and said, "O messenger of Allah, I have relatives with whom I keep good relations, but they cut off relations with me, I forgive them, but they oppress me, I do good to them, but they treat me badly, should I get even with them (treat them as bad as they treat me)?"

The Prophet (saw) replied, "No, if you do so all the relations will be cut off this way. On the contrary, be generous and keep in touch with them, you will always have support from Allah as long as you stay this way."

In fact, the person who initiates the communication first will be rewarded for that gesture of peace, even if the other party refuses to respond to that call. In this incident, the Prophet (saw) wants to highlight that keeping relations with your family is a greater priority and more important than the topic of dispute or the one who caused the dispute.

It is important to note that all blood relations must be maintained without discrimination between the poor and the rich. Also, sometimes there is a false notion that if your family member does not share the same faith as yourself or is a non-Muslim, then it is permissible to cut relations with them. This is wrong and it is narrated that a companion of Imam Sadiq (saw), Ibn Hamid asked him, "My relatives are not of my religion. Are any of their rights upon me?" The Imam (as) gave the following reply, "Why not? The rights of the relatives do not become invalid for any reason (even if the relatives are unbelievers) but if the relatives are Muslim then their rights are twice as much. One is due to their being relatives and second because of them being Muslim."

Let us ask ourselves if we have cut relations with any of our family members or if others have closed the door of communication with us. Regardless of who did or why, let us put our egos behind our backs and follow the command of the Prophet (saw) by picking up the phone to call our brother or sister or cousin, and invite them for dinner or even for a cup of tea. By that humble action, we will have gained Allah's pleasure and His Messenger!

It is generally recommended that if we see two individuals conflicting with each other, especially two family members, we are expected to bring peace and unity between them.

If we apply this concept on those who have drifted off from the connection to the purified Household of the Prophet (saw), we can imagine the immense reward of the believers who strive by their knowledge and wisdom, to guide the people to the path of AhlulBayt (as) and bring them closer to this lantern of divine light.

Sometimes, in the ups and downs of our daily lives, we forget important matters. Or in some other instances, some advantages and blessings of Allah (swt) are taken for granted so that we hardly think about them, and we start to acknowledge them only when we miss them and when it's too late...

To whom do we truly owe our accomplishments? By simply looking back at the past, we realize that we owe much to people who we have forgotten. Those who with all the problems and difficulties, and with the least expectance, have paved the way to our progress, but we have rarely appreciated them. In general, it is indecent to be unthankful to anyone, nevertheless some specials are more important to not to be forgotten even through all the problems and daily matters. Yes, they are our parents.

Among the divine teachings regarding the parents' respects and rights, the AhlulBayt (as) School has a subtle and profound look at the matter. For example, when we refer to the school of the eighth Imam, Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Reza (as), he teaches as such,

"Be aware that the right of the mother is of the most obligatory and necessary rights; because she has carried you when she was pregnant of you in a condition that no one would bother to hold. She has kept you with her life, and heart, and eyes, and ears, and all her entity with full affection and willingness. Despite all the discomforts she carried you, an act which no one will tolerate. She was ready to stay hungry to keep you full. She was ready to be thirsty to keep you quenched. She was ready to be without proper cloth to keep you covered, and wait in the sunlight to keep you in the shadow."

Therefore thanking the mother and being lenient to her should be in relative amount to her services. However, you are unable to compensate her smallest favor unless with the mercy and help of Allah, Allah has put her right aligned with His own right, and has said,

"And we enjoined on man to give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination."

Also the father is highly respectable and deserves significant rights. Imam Reza (as) says, "You must obey your father, and be humble against him, and observe his dignity, praise and compliment him, and speak softly in his presence as the father is the root and origin of the child. If there was not a father, there would not be a child."

Children must be kind and beneficent to their fathers, and after their death pray for them, and remember them. Because it has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (saw) that, "The one who does good to his father in his lifetime, but forgets to pray for him after his death, Allah would name him rebellious and insubordinate."

If you want your own children to be kind towards you and help you out. Then be kind & respectful to your parents.

Allah has created the world in a way that one could find the key to success, and reach eternal happiness.

One of the keys to happiness, both in this world and in hereafter is to treat one's parents with respect and to please them.

This has several advantages in one's life, like;

1. To respect one's parents, makes up for their sins

A man asked Prophet (saw), "I have committed a sin. How can I pay for it?"

"Are your parents alive?" Prophet (saw) asked.

"My father is alive," he said.

"Be nice to your father," said Prophet (saw),"This will make up for your sins."

The point is that one does not need to be cruel to his parents to be considered a sinner; just not being nice to one's parents is a huge sin. Allah will never forgive this sin and He will punish people for this. Being nice to parents also sends away one's sins and causes Allah to have mercy on him.

2. Allah rewards it as much as He rewards pilgrimage to Mecca

Each Muslim aspires to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Allah has appointed some other good deeds that will be rewarded as much as pilgrimage to Mecca. One of these good deeds is having respect for one's parents.

Prophet (saw) said, "In return for each affectionate look a child casts on his parents, Allah will reward him as much as He rewards pilgrimage to Mecca."

"What if he looks at his parents a hundred times a day?"

"Each look has a reward as much as a Mecca pilgrimage," said Prophet (saw).

3. The pleasure of parents is the pleasure of Allah.

Each believer wishes to make Allah pleased in his life. One of the things that pleases Allah, is the pleasure of one's parents.

Prophet (saw) said in this regard, "Allah is happy when parents are happy and he is angry when they are angry."

4. Angels pray for people who respect their parents

5. One's wealth and honour increases

Everyone likes to have a long life and lots of wealth. In order for this to happen, one should act based on the rules of Allah and his Prophet (saw). One of these commands is to have respect for one's parents.

Prophet (saw) said, "If someone is nice to his parents, I guarantee that he will live a long and wealthy life and he will be loved by all."