Should I keep ties with my relatives if they cut me off?
Short answer
Yes; keeping ties of kinship is not mere reciprocation; rather it is prescribed for the Muslim to keep ties with his relatives even if others cut him off, according to ability and by lawful means.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh cited the hadith “The one who maintains ties is not the one who merely reciprocates”, and urged continuing ties with good words, good deeds and supplication.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz
الحث على صلة الرحم وإن قطعت — فتوى ١٤٩٧٥- Question
«سؤال طويل تقول فيه: لوالدتي عمة لا تقبل صلة والدتي لها، فبم توجهون الوالدة - جزاكم الله خيرًا - هل تستمر في صلتها أو تقاطعها؟ الشيخ: أعد. المقدم: تقول لوالدتي عمة لا تقبل صلة والدتي لها، فبم توجهون والدتي؟ هل تواصلها أم تقاطعها؟»
English translation (unreviewed): A long question in which she says: My mother has an aunt (paternal) who does not accept my mother's keeping ties with her. What do you direct my mother to do, may Allah reward you? Should she continue keeping ties with her or cut her off? — The Shaykh: Repeat. — Presenter: She says my mother has an aunt who does not accept my mother's ties with her; what do you direct my mother to do? Should she keep ties or cut her off?
- From the text of the answer
«نوجهها بأن تصبر، وتواصل الصلة بالكلام الطيب، والفعل الطيب، والمال إذا تيسر ذلك، ولا تقطع، إذا قطعت لا تقطعها هي بنت أخيها، فعليها أن تجتهد في صلتها، والدعاء لها بالتوفيق والهداية، واستعمال الكلام الطيب، وتستعين بمن تشاء من قريباتها حتى ترضى عنها عمتها يقول النبي ﷺ في الحديث الصحيح: ليس الواصل بالمكافي، ولكن الواصل الذي إذا قطعت رحمه؛ وصلها هذا الواصل، ومن عقيدة أهل السنة والجماعة أن تصل من قطعك، هذا هو السنة، فإذا قطعت وقطع؛ استمرت القطيعة، لكن أنت إذا قطعك أخوك، أو عمك، أو عمتك، أو غيرهما من أقاربك؛ لا تقطع أنت، افعل المعروف بالكلام الطيب، والفعل الطيب»
English translation (unreviewed): We direct her to be patient and to keep the ties with good words, good deeds and money if that is possible, and not to cut off. If she cuts you off, do not cut her off; she is the daughter of her brother, so she should strive to keep ties with her, supplicate for her success and guidance, use good words, and seek the help of whomever she wishes among her female relatives until her aunt is pleased with her. The Prophet ﷺ says in the authentic hadith: “The one who maintains ties is not the one who merely reciprocates, but the one who maintains ties when his ties are cut.” It is part of the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah that you keep ties with whoever cuts you off. This is the sunnah. If you cut and he cuts, the cutting continues; but if your brother, uncle, aunt or other relatives cut you off, do not cut off; do good with good words and good deeds ...
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
Encouragement to keep kinship ties even if cut off
Title of the original page (Arabic): الحث على صلة الرحم وإن قطعت
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him