Library Ethics Greater Sins Chapter 9 Seventh Greater Sin: Qat’a ar-Rahm What is the Least Amount of Silet ar-Rahm That is Wajib
What is the Least Amount of Silet ar-Rahm That is Wajib
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What is the Least Amount of Silet ar-Rahm That is Wajib
Every kind of Silet ar-Rahm, the failure of which is viewed as a sort of Qat’a ar-Rahm, is obligatory for us. For example, if a person is unable to fulfill his needs due to poverty or is unable to get medical aid for any reason, or is in debt; and he approaches a rich relative for help; it is obligatory on the rich person to help him. Even if the rich person is not approached directly but comes to know the predicament of his poor relative, it is obligatory on him to help this less fortunate relative. The wealthy man who fails to carry out these obligations will be guilty of Qat’a ar-Rahm.
It is however not obligatory for a person to help his poor relative if he himself is not in a sound position to do so and fears that his finances will be constrained or that he himself may become a destitute. Also, Silet ar-Rahm is not obligatory, if by doing so he will violate the laws of Islam. For example one need not pay a visit to a relative, if by doing so one would be in the midst of Na-mahram or may be compelled to hear music.
Sometimes we may be in doubt whether a particular action could be considered as Silet ar-Rahm or Qat’a ar-Rahm. In this case the reference point is to see how the people in general view it. The criteria for deciding that a particular behaviour is Silet ar-Rahm or Qat’a ar-Rahm therefore depends on the general feeling for it. If a small lapse like not saluting or non-compliance with a small request is Qat’a ar-Rahm according to those around us, then it is so. By the same token if observing small niceties are considered as Silet ar-Rahm, then it is so.
