Tafsir of Muhammad 47:23

Such are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their vision. This involves a general prohibition of spreading corruption on earth, and a specific prohibition of severing the ties of kinship. In fact, Allah has commanded the people to establish righteousness on earth, as well as to join the ties of kinship by treating the relatives well in speech, actions, and spending wealth in charity. Many authentic and sound Hadiths have been reported through numerous routes of transmission from Allah's Messenger in this regard. Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said,

خلق الله تعالى الخلق فلما فرغ منه قامت الرحم فٲخذت بحقو الرحمن عز وجل فقال مه فقالت هذا مقام العايذ بك من القطيعة فقال تعالى أﻻ ترضين أن أصل من وصلك وأقطع من قطعك قالت بلى قال فذاك لك

After Allah completed creating the creation, the womb stood up and pulled at the lower garment of the Most Merciful. He said, 'Stop that!' It replied, 'My stand here is the stand of one seeking refuge in you from severance of ties.' Allah said, 'Would it not please you that I join whoever joins you and sever whoever severs you.' It replied, 'Yes indeed!' He said, 'You are granted that!' Abu Hurayrah then added, "Read if you wish:

فهل عسيتم إن توليتم

أن تفسدوا في اﻻرض وتقطعوا أرحامكم

So would you perhaps, if you turned away, spread corruption on earth, and sever your ties of kinship.'' Then Al-Bukhari recorded it with another wording which states that the Messenger of Allah said,

اقرءوا إن شيتم

(Read if you wish):

فهل عسيتم إن توليتم

أن تفسدوا في اﻻرض وتقطعوا أرحامكم

So would you perhaps, if you turned away, spread corruption on earth, and sever your ties of kinship. Muslim also recorded it. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said:

ما من ذنب أحرى أن يعجل الله تعالى عقوبته في الدنيا مع ما يدخر لصاحبه في اﻻخرة من البغي وقطيعة الرحم

No sin deserves that Allah hasten its punishment in the worldly life, in addition to what He reserves in the Hereafter for those who commit it, more than injustice and severance of the ties of kinship. This was also recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Sahih.'' Imam Ahmad recorded from Thawban, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said,

من سره النساء في اﻻجل والزيادة في الرزق فليصل رحمه

Whoever likes for his life to be extended, and his provision increased, let him connect his ties of kinship. Ahmad was alone in recording this narration, but it has a supporting narration in the Sahih. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said,

إن الرحم معلقة بالعرش وليس الواصل بالمكافء ولكن الواصل الذي إذا قطعت رحمه وصلها

Verily, the womb is attached to the Throne. And connecting its ties does not mean dealing evenly (with the kinsfolk), but it rather means that if one's kinsfolk sever the ties, he connects them. This Hadith was also recorded by Al-Bukhari. Ahmad also recorded from Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said,

توضع الرحم يوم القيامة لها حجنة كحجنة المغزل تكلم بلسان طلق ذلق فتقطع من قطعها وتصل من وصلها

The womb will be placed on the Day of Resurrection, curved like a spinning wheel, speaking with an eloquent fluent tongue, calling to severing whoever had severed it, and joining whoever had joined it. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said,

الراحمون يرحمهم الرحمن ارحموا أهل اﻻرض يرحمكم أهل السماء والرحم شجنة من الرحمن من وصلها وصلته ومن قطعها بتته

The merciful ones will be granted mercy from the Most Merciful. Have mercy on those on earth -- the One above the heavens will then have mercy on you. And Ar-Rahim (the womb) is from Ar-Rahman, so whoever joins it, it joins him; and whoever severs it, it severs him. Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi both recorded this Hadith and it has been reported with continuous chains of transmission. At-Trimidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' There are numerous other Hadiths in this regard