Whoever loves to have his sustenance expanded and his term of life prolonged should maintain his kinship ties

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urges the upholding of kinship ties by visiting, physically and financially honoring, and the like. It points out that it is a cause for expanding sustenance and prolonging lifespan.

Lessons

• Kinship refers to our relatives on the mother's and father's side. The closer the relative, the worthier he is in having his kinship ties maintained.
• Recompense is of the same type as the action. So, whoever maintains his kinship ties by kindness and benevolence, Allah maintains him in terms of his lifespan and sustenance.
• Upholding kinship ties is a cause for the increase and expansion of sustenance and the prolongation of lifespan. Although people's lifespan and sustenance are fixed, this may indicate the existence of blessings in their lifespan and sustenance. So, a person utilizes his lifespan more and better than others. It is also said to mean a real increase in one's sustenance and lifespan - And Allah knows best.