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Islamic Jurisprudence Major Sins, Sins, and Disliked Acts 833 2026-08-20

Ruling on Cutting Ties with One’s Father and Relatives, and Abandoning Prayer Due to Feelings of Shortcoming and Negative Thoughts About Allah

Question
What is the ruling concerning a person who does not speak to his father because of his bad treatment, forbidden relationships, and neglect of his family? He also does not visit his paternal aunts because they mistreated his mother, although he greets them when he meets them. He also avoids speaking to some coworkers because of previous disagreements and problems. He does not pray because he believes that Allah will not accept his prayers, saying that he is sinful and has cut family ties. He also does not want to forgive those who have wronged him. What should he do?
Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:

First: What to do when worries and problems become overwhelming

When a person feels overwhelmed by life and experiences many problems with others, he should examine himself, repent to Allah, and hold himself accountable for any mistakes or shortcomings.

He should also turn to Allah through supplication and seeking forgiveness and strive to improve himself and his actions, because relief is in the hands of Allah alone.

Second: It is not permissible to cut ties with one’s father because of his sins

The rights of a father are great in Islam, and they do not disappear because he commits sins or falls short in his responsibilities.

A child must treat his father kindly and deal with him in an appropriate manner, even if the father is wrong or negligent.

Allah says:

“But if they pressure you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them. Still, keep their company in this world courteously.” [Luqman 31:15]

If Allah commands kindness toward parents even if they call their child to shirk, then this applies even more clearly to sins and shortcomings that are less serious than that.

Third: Maintaining family ties is required even when relatives cause harm

Family problems do not justify completely cutting off relatives.

A Muslim should maintain family ties, treat relatives kindly, and strive to forgive their mistreatment as much as reasonably possible.

The Prophet ﷺ said to a man who complained that his relatives mistreated him:

“If you are as you say, it is as though you are feeding them hot ashes, and you will continue to have a supporter from Allah against them as long as you continue doing so.”

Narrated by Muslim.

Fourth: Dealing with coworkers

Few workplaces are completely free from disagreements and problems between people.

A Muslim is encouraged to be patient, overlook some mistakes, and forgive others when appropriate. This contributes to peace of mind and reflects good character.

Completely isolating oneself from others because of every disagreement or offense may increase distress and make everyday life more difficult.

Fifth: Abandoning prayer because one believes Allah will not accept it is a serious mistake

One of the gravest mistakes a person can make is abandoning prayer because he believes Allah will not accept it.

Allah commanded people to pray. He did not command anyone to abandon prayer because of sins or shortcomings.

In fact, the more a person sins, the greater his need for prayer, repentance, and seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

Abandoning prayer is one of the gravest sins, and a number of scholars have held that completely abandoning it constitutes disbelief.

Sixth: Negative assumptions about Allah are dangerous

For a person to say, “Allah will never accept anything from me,” or “There is no point in my prayer,” reflects an improper assumption about Allah, and a servant of Allah must not despair of His mercy.

A believer is commanded to think well of his Lord, hope in His mercy, and turn back to Him regardless of how many sins he has committed.

Allah says:

“Say, ‘O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy.’” [Az-Zumar 39:53]

Seventh: What should this person do?

He should sincerely repent to Allah and begin correcting what he can.

He should maintain the five daily prayers, think well of Allah, honor his father and treat him kindly.

He should also maintain family ties, strive to forgive and overlook offenses, improve his relationships with others as much as possible, and frequently supplicate to Allah and seek His forgiveness.

Whoever strives to correct his relationship with Allah will find Allah helping him to improve his relationships with people.

Conclusion

It is not permissible to cut ties with one’s father because of his sins, and family disagreements do not justify completely severing family ties.

Abandoning prayer because one believes it will not be accepted is a serious mistake, and a Muslim must not despair of Allah’s mercy or think negatively of Him.

The proper course is sincere repentance, maintaining the prayers, treating one’s parents kindly, maintaining family ties, striving to improve relationships, and having good expectations of Allah while hoping in His mercy.

And Allah knows best.