Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have read one of your answers which says that among the people who will not enter jannah, are those who break relations.
Unfortunately I have come across people who speak lies, talk to strange males as if they know them from long(about their likes, dislikes poetry etc.), use bad language.Once, my sister-in-law said she was bored at home and I told her to come to visit my mom`s place(she is my cousin too, as I am married to a first cousin) as I was going to visit them.She told me that she hates relatives and she prefers her friends.
Anyway, I have found them to be speaking lies on many occassions and the looks they give me, I feel I should not have married as all this started only when I consented to marry my cousin after he proposed.He made it very clear to his family that he would marry me or never marry.Now I just talk to them only if they ask something or I avoid talking to them.I would like to know if this would be breaking of relations.
Also I would like to know if I can go by myself to another country to study?I have read in one of your answers that a woman should not travel alone, and going to another country would mean living alone for substantial time without mehram.
Please reply soon as admissions are nearing. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Breaking relations

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 13 Surah Ar-Raad verse 25: As for those who break their covenant with Allah after confirming it, who cut asunder relationships which Allah has bidden to be joined, and spread chaos on the earth, their’s shall be the curse, and they shall have a wretched abode in the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Bakarah verse 27:And He leads astray only those who disobey Allah, who break Allah’s covenant after ratifying it, who cut asunder relationships what Allah has ordered to be joined, and who produce chaos on the Earth. These are indeed the people who are the losers.

Allah Subhanah has commanded the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day not to break the blood-relations He has created for them.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.17 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "The word 'Ar-Rahm (womb) derives its name from Ar-Rahman (i.e., one of the names of Allah) and Allah said: 'I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you (the womb, i.e. kith and kin), and sever the relation with him who will sever the relation with you (the womb, i.e. kith and kin).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.15 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

Allah 's Messenger (saws) said, "Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged, then he should keep good relations with his kith and kin."

Islam has made it obligatory upon the believers to keep good relations with their kith and kin, and to never ever break the relationships which Allah Subhanah has created for them. Regardless of whether the other party reciprocates your good behavior or not, the believers are commanded to maintain good relations with them. If they try to break the relationship, the believers should try to enjoin it; if they try to distance themselves away, the believers should try to bring them closer; if they try to do evil or hurt you, you should forgive them and do good towards them! That would be considered righteousness and a good deed deserving of a huge reward from Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: Also I would like to know if I can go by myself to another country to study? I have read in one of your answers that a woman should not travel alone, and going to another country would mean living alone for substantial time without mehram.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.194 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "It is not permissible for a woman, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to travel for one day and night except with a Mahram."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) declared it forbidden for a believing woman, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to travel for a period of more than one day and one night except with her mehram. Travelling abroad alone to study would be to travel and live alone in a foreign land without a mehram; such a situation would be absolutely impermissible for a believing woman who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day!

If possible, a mehram of the woman should accompany her overseas; or alternatively she may choose to continue her education in a place where her mehrams reside.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.85 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

The Prophet (saws) said, "A woman should not travel except with a Dhu-Mahram (her husband or a man with whom that woman cannot marry at all according to the Islamic jurisprudence), and no man may visit her except in the presence of a Dhu-Mahram." A man got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! I intend to go to such and such an army (for Jihad) and my wife wants to perform Hajj." The Prophet (saws) said (to him), "Go along with her (to Hajj)."

If one reads the above narration, he will realize how much importance the Messenger of Allah (saws) gave to the protection and rights of the woman. Fighting in the Cause of Allah is considered one of the biggest honors in Islam. A believer was enlisted to go to fight in the Cause of Allah, and his wife intended to perform the pilgrimage of Hajj. The Messenger of Allah (saws) permitted and commanded the believer to leave Jihad, and accompany his wife to the pilgrimage!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan