Maintaining Ties with Mentally Ill Relatives

Question

1. If a relative is mentally ill, is it obligatory to maintain contact with them, or is it sufficient to inquire about their condition through others? 2. Is maintaining ties of kinship (between cousins, uncles, etc.) obligatory regardless of gender, or is it only required among those of the same gender?

Answer 1

Peace be upon you. Regarding your questions: 1) Maintaining ties of kinship is obligatory, and this includes all relatives such as parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and their children. The essence of kinship is based on recognized social ties. For example, a cousin is a clear example of kinship. You can maintain these ties by inquiring about their well-being, even if it's just a phone call, and visiting them when they are ill is also encouraged, although not mandatory. Asking about someone through another person also counts as maintaining kinship ties; for instance, a woman can ask her aunt about her children, thus fulfilling this obligation. 2) Maintaining kinship does not depend on physical contact or other actions that require being in a non-mahram relationship; it can be achieved through simple greetings. May you be successful in all good deeds.