To eat with or talk to a Muslim

(Part No. 12; Page No. 363) My father and my uncle, my father’s brother, never have good relations even though we live in one house. Both my father and my uncle are widowers. I always advise them not to fight, but sometimes my uncle picks on my father. How can I advise them knowing that my father offers Salah and Sawm (Fast) whereas my uncle offers Salah irregularly but he observes Sawm.

A: Advise your uncle to offer Salah regularly and explain to him that the Salah is the most important pillar of Islam after the Shahadatayn (Testimonies of Faith). Forsaking Salah is kufr (disbelief) and his fasting is not valid if he is not praying. His good deeds will not be accepted if he does not pray. Advise them both to be righteous and fear Allah (Exalted be He), and to maintain the ties of kinship and pay attention to the rights of relatives. Whoever cuts the ties of kinship, Allah will cut him off, and whoever takes care of the ties of kinship, Allah will take care of him. Read to both of them the verses of the Qur'an and the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which speak about that. Then, if your uncle responds positively, then praise be to Allah, otherwise you have to shun him.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.