Family lineage is defined as a group of people who are related to each other as the direct descendants of a particular ancestor. The art of genealogy is both interesting and informative. "Tracing family roots back through generations can help a person connect more deeply with a sense of self by learning about their family's past—where they came from, who they were, what they did, the trials they overcame, the accomplishments they achieved, the dreams they had. Preserving the history of one's lineage and family is an integral part of our culture and tradition. It not only helps to strengthen the link between generations but also provides an opportunity for personal growth and development.
And it is for keeping one's ties to one's kinship that even Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stressed on the importance of not forgetting one's family lineage for it fosters love between the various branches of kinship, but also helps in commenting the inter family relationship.
This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi (27 - Chapters on Righteousness And Maintaining Good Relations With Relatives / كتاب البر والصلة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter # 49 What Has Been Related About Learning About Lineage / باب مَا جَاءَ فِي تَعَلُّمِ النَّسَبِ ) as Hadith number # 2419:
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
"Learn enough about your lineage to facilitate keeping your ties of kinship. For indeed keeping the ties of kinship encourages affection among the relatives, increases the wealth, and increases the lifespan."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عِيسَى الثَّقَفِيِّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تَعَلَّمُوا مِنْ أَنْسَابِكُمْ مَا تَصِلُونَ بِهِ أَرْحَامَكُمْ فَإِنَّ صِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَحَبَّةٌ فِي الأَهْلِ مَثْرَاةٌ فِي الْمَالِ مَنْسَأَةٌ فِي الأَثَرِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ . وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ " مَنْسَأَةٌ فِي الأَثَرِ " . يَعْنِي زِيَادَةً فِي الْعُمُرِ .
Although this Hadith is graded as Hassan, and not Sahi, yet the message it carries is essential for all of us to give attention to. Tracing family roots back through generations can help a person connect more deeply with a sense of self by learning about their family’s past—where they came from, who they were, what they did, the trials they overcame, the accomplishments they achieved, the dreams they had.
Fortunately, our family tree is well recorded and and it makes me feel proud of knowing our journey from being non Muslims to accepting Islam when one of our forefathers accepted Islam somewhere in the 13th century AD and since then, Alhamdolillah, we continue to be under the fold of Islam.
Let us all keep a record of our family lineage and educate our coming generations about our kinship, some elders who were men of substance and how they made efforts to keep alive the family lineage, something Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has stressed in the above said Hadith.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
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