Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When this Verse was revealed: "And warn your tribe (O Muhammad (PBUH)) of near kindred". (26:214) Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called the Quraish; when they gathered, he said to them: "O sons of `Abd Shams; O sons of Ka`b bin Luai, rescue yourselves from the Fire! O sons of Murrah bin Ka`b, rescue yourselves from the Fire! O sons of `Abd Manaf, rescue yourselves from the Fire! O sons of `Abdul-Muttalib, rescue yourselves from the Fire! O Fatimah, rescue yourself from the Fire, for I have no power (to protect you) from Allah in anything except that I would sustain relationship with you".[Muslim].
Commentary:
1. This Hadith tells us that lineage in the Hereafter will not help anybody. So much so that even one's relationship with Messenger of Allah (PBUH) shall not carry any weight on that day. The only thing that will then help in salvation will be one's good deeds. People for whom the Prophet (PBUH) and pious men will intercede will be believers with some sins in their account and not the disbelievers devoid of Faith and good actions. Neither will anybody intercede for the infidels, nor will the infidels find salvation. 2. In preaching religion, priority must be given to one's own close relatives. They deserve it more than anyone else, and for this reason Divine injunctions should be first of all conveyed to them. 3. Even if a Muslim's relatives are pagans and polytheists, their rights of kinsmen and the demands of "maintaining the ties of kinship" enjoined by Islam must be fulfilled. The first and foremost demand of their rights is that they should be invited to the right path so that they will be saved from Hell-fire.
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