as salamu alaykum,

Shokran for writing to our live session.  As I am not an Islamic scholar, I cannot advise you on fatwas.  Please do submit your question to our “Ask the Scholar” section for a complete answer.

I can advise you that as Muslims, we are to treat each other with love, kindness, and mercy.  This is especially so for family and siblings.

AboutIslam states “Adil Salahi, editor of Arab News writes, “A person’s relatives are collectively called in Arabic his Rahim. Linguistically, this word means “womb.” When it is used to indicate a person’s relatives, it includes all his relatives whether close or distant, heirs or not […] The Arabic root from which the word rahim is derived indicates mercy and compassion […] The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:  “Allah says: I am Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) and I have created kinship (that is rahim) and given it a name which is derived from My name. He who fosters it I will bless, and he who severs it I will sever.” (At-Tidmidhi)”.  I feel that this clearly sums up how a relationship should be between siblings and how siblings should treat each other.  We are to foster good, loving relationships with our “rahim” or siblings.  We are to show mercy and compassion.

Brothers who do not value their sisters and look at them as only their father’s responsibility are not fulfilling love and mercy.  As above-Allah says of this “He who fosters it I will bless, and he who severs it I will sever”.  If we examine your question from a general adab perspective, the least of this (but very important) is giving the greetings of “as salamu alaykum”.  As Muslims we volunteer to help others in need, we give donations to charities, we seek to alleviate the sufferings of others.  If we see a sister (or brother) in need are we not supposed to help them?  Especially if that one is from our own mother’s womb?  If we cannot even do that, then something is gravely wrong.

May Allah grant mercy upon us all and lead us down the right path.