{"_id":"66fd758e928b902b953d7d34","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"How often should we contact our family members to maintain family ties?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is there a certain number of times one should contact their close and extended family a week to fulfill the obligation? Also, how far into the family does this obligation extend? If grandparents for example have language barriers and live across the world, are we held responsible for not talking to them directly that often? Especially if we know they don’t mind it nor are they lonely at all due to family that are able to speak to them? I am worried about this because it is not normal for my family to talk to each other often and I am trying to contact them but feel overwhelmed due to different reasons.\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"There is no specific number of times or a set frequency for contacting family in order to fulfill the obligation of ṣilat al-raḥm. Scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī (d. 974AH) have mentioned that maintaining family ties means continuing the type and frequency of contact that has already been established with your relatives. For instance, if you have a pattern of calling your grandmother once a week, continue to do that. If you visit your mother every weekend, maintain that. Similarly, if there is a relative you visit once a year, continue that pattern.\\n\\nThe key is to maintain the level of contact where your family doesn't feel that you are severing ties. If it becomes overwhelming, communicate with your family, explain your situation, and reassure them that your intention is not to sever ties. Ask them to be understanding and forgive any shortcomings in your ability to keep in touch as frequently as you might like.\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668da0010b76658b4c232b9d","tag":"Relationships: Parent and Child","count":111},{"_id":"668d9fe20b76658b4c23280c","tag":"Relationships: Extended Family","count":47},{"_id":"668da0830b76658b4c23393f","tag":"Relationships: Sibling","count":29}],"createdOn":"2024-10-02T16:32:14.589Z"}