Title: Severing Relationships Question: If any one does not want to continue on close relation with us so what is the solution for this. Do we also do the same thing with them? Answer: Human relations are a very complex issue. It, therefore, seems extremely difficult to be able to give any generalized opinion regarding the maintenance of congenial relationships. It should, however, be kept in mind that one of the important directives of the Shari`ah is to avoid severing our relations with others and to explore all possible means of maintaining these relationships. Nevertheless, because a congenial relationship is generally a two-sided affair and it can sometimes become extremely difficult to maintain a relationship by the efforts of one person only, we may not be left with any option but to allow the severing of a relationship, if the other person is not willing to maintain it. Even in such cases, however, it would be advisable for a Muslim to not only avoid the initiation of such severing of relationships but also to try to save such relationships from breaking-up, even if it means suppressing one's ego and giving away a lot of one's sacred grounds. August 14, 2000