🧭 Region & Middle East · #114

Our extended family lives on both sides of the border between Kelantan and southern Thailand. How do we keep family ties (silaturahim)?

A national border does not cut blood ties, so plan the relationship deliberately. The younger generation may no longer know their cousins across the border because of distance and paperwork. Set up a family group on a messaging app to share news of births, marriages and deaths. Choose one time a year, such as the Eid holidays, for visits taking turns on each side of the border. Make sure everyone who crosses the border carries valid travel documents. Teach the children the family tree and tell them stories of their grandparents. Allah says: “The believers are but brothers” (Surah al-Hujurat 49:10), all the more so those who share the same blood. See Muslim families in Thailand.

Sources

Surah al-Hujurat 49:10

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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