Maintaining Positive Relationships with Non-Muslim Family Members

This study discusses the concept and implementation of maintaining positive kinship ties (silaturrahim) with non-Muslim family members from an Islamic perspective. The focus is on the obligation of performing good deeds (ihsan) and acting justly (al-qist) in interactions, based on textual evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah. The Problem Statement of this study is the existence of a misconception among some Muslims who equate having good relations with non-Muslims as wala' (absolute loyalty) which is prohibited. This confusion may lead some to be negligent in fulfilling their familial duties towards non-Muslim family members, particularly parents, to the extent of neglecting the responsibility of maintaining kinship ties and providing financial support (nafaqah). This study aims to: (1) Clarify the concept of relationships with non-Muslims based on textual evidence (dalil naqli), (2) Elaborate on the obligation of maintaining kinship ties and providing financial support to non-Muslim family members, and (3) Distinguish between the enjoined good conduct (birr) and the prohibited wala'. This study employs a qualitative methodology in the form of library research with a textual content analysis approach. Data was collected from primary sources, namely verses of the Qur'an and Prophetic hadiths, as well as secondary sources such as books of exegesis (tafsir) (like Ibn Jarir al-Tabari) and hadith commentaries (sharh) (like al-Khattabi, Ibn Hajar, and Ibn al-Qayyim). Thematic analysis was conducted to derive clear principles. The study finds that Islam places great emphasis on preserving family relationships (silaturrahim) and the obligation of being good and just to non-Muslim family members, especially parents, as long as they do not wage war against Muslims. The obligation to provide financial support and interact kindly (ma'ruf) is absolute and not restricted by religious difference. The prohibition in Islam is against wala' (loyalty in matters of creed and warfare), not against humane and familial relationships characterized by ihsan and justice. In conclusion, maintaining good relations with non-Muslim family members is a religious requirement (tuntutan syarak) and a manifestation of true Islamic tolerance.

Relationship, Muslim family, Non-Muslims

1. Harun, U. A., & Kusrin, Z. M. (2020). Konsep Interaksi Kekeluargaan Mualaf dengan Ibu Bapa Bukan Muslim Menurut Syarak [The Concept of Family Interactions Between Mualaf and Non Muslim’s Parents According to Syarak]. BITARA International Journal of Civilizational Studies and Human Sciences (e-ISSN: 2600-9080), 3(2), 141-149. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Baharudin, M. F., & Kusrin, Z. M. (2021). Interaksi Mualaf India dengan Keluarga Bukan Islam Ketika Sambutan Perayaan Agama Hindu. Islamiyyat, 43(1), 73-84. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Erna, E. (2022). Hubungan Muslim dan Non Muslim dalam Ikatan Keluarga di Kecamatan Sei Bamban Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Meerangani, K. A., Johar, M. H. M., & Hamid, M. F. A. (2022). Persepsi Masyarakat Non Muslim Terhadap Prinsip Asas Islam: Perception of Non-Muslim Communities on the Basic Principles of Islam. Online Journal of Research in Islamic Studies, 9(1), 77-88. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Gintari, A., & Rivaie, W. Adaptasi Sosial Tionghoa Muslim Dengan Keluarga Non Mulim (Studi Keluarga Tionghoa Muslim Di Kecamatan Singkawang Barat). Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran Khatulistiwa (JPPK), 2(12). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, 1984, Tafsir al-Tabari, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. al-Bukhari, 1989. Sahih, kitab al-adab, bab silatu al-marah ummaha walaha zaujun. Lihat Ahmad ibn cAli ibn Hajr al-cAsqalani, Fath al-bari sharh sahih al-Bukhari, Beirut: Dar al-kutub al-cIlmiyyah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Data Integration in Malaysian Syariah Courts: A Study of Challenges and Solutions
• The Concept of Family Well-Being from the Perspectives of Islam, Western Thought and Malaysia Madani
• Leveraging AI Tools for Islamic Scholarship: Podcast and eBook Innovations in Teaching the Sunni Intellectual Tradition
• Cryptocurrency and Shariah: Analyzing the Implications of Islamic Jurisprudence on Bitcoin and its Ethical Framework
• Islamic Credit Card and its Value-Based Proposition: A Perspective from Maqasid Al-Shariah