Benevolence to Relations
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Holy Messenger ﷺsaid: “A person, who wants that there may be abundance in his provision, and that his age be lengthened, then he should do favour to his blood relations.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
Islam enjoins the believers to be kind and benevolent, to do kindness to the blood relations in particular, and to the needy and destitute as well as human beings in general. In this hadith the Holy Messenger ﷺhas highlighted the benefits of doing kindness and benevolence to the near and dear ones.
It is but natural that man wants his provision to be in plenty. It is equally natural that he wants to live longer. The Holy Messenger ﷺ, who had a keen perception of human psychology, says that one who wants increase in his provision and to live longer, should do favour to his blood relations. Doing favour to blood relations means that he should spend on his blood relations, help them whenever they stand in need of his help, advise them properly whenever they seek his advice, etc. Blood relations include mother and father, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, grand and great grandchildren, maternal and paternal relations, etc.
But, in doing favour to his relations, he should exercise some caution. This hadith does not mean to do favour to his relations even when they are in the wrong. In another hadith the Holy Messenger ﷺ has prohibited the believer to support his relations in matters wrong.