Failing to Maintain Good Relations with Relatives

4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad from al- Hassan ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from abu ‘Ubaydah from abu Ja’far عليه السلام who has said the following: “It is written in the book of Ali عليه السلام ‘There are three characteristics, that if found in anyone, he will never die before suffering their consequences: treachery, failing to maintain good relations with relatives and taking a false oath to oppose Allah thereby. Of the acts of obedience with the quickest best result is to maintain good relations with relatives. A people may happen to be unjust in their affairs but maintain good relations with relatives, their wealth increases and they grow rich. False oath and failing to maintain good relations with relatives can leave a town in mins, empty of the inhabitants and transform the family. Transformation of family is discontinuation of the lineage and reproduction.’”