Question Summary:
Asking for forgiveness before leaving for Umrah

Question Detail:

 I am planning to perform ummah in the next few months inshallah, do I ask my family for forgiveness before I leave for my journey? In the past I've had a few family issues/breakups with my siblings and we stopped talking, no fault of mine just to clarify. Please can you advice?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The order of maintaining family ties is replete in the Qur’an and Ahaadith and should be maintained at all times.
Consider the following:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الرَّحِمُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْعَرْشِ تَقُولُ مَنْ وَصَلَنِي وَصَلَهُ اللهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَنِي قَطَعَهُ اللهُ
 (صحيح مسلم:2555)
Hadhrat Aaisha (Radiallahu Anha) narrates that the Rasool of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, '(the personification of) Family ties are attached to the throne saying, 'he who joins me, Allah joins him and he who breaks with me Allah Ta’āla breaks away from him.' (Muslim: 2555)  

أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ قَاطِعُ رَحِمٍ
(صحيح مسلم: 2556) 
Hazrat Jubair ibn Mut’īm (Radiallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'The person who breaks family ties will not enter Jannah.' (Muslim: 2556)

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو: - قَالَ سُفْيَانُ: لَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ الأَعْمَشُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَرَفَعَهُ حَسَنٌ وَفِطْرٌ - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَيْسَ الوَاصِلُ بِالْمُكَافِئِ، وَلَكِنِ الوَاصِلُ الَّذِي إِذَا قُطِعَتْ رَحِمُهُ وَصَلَهَا (صحيح البخاري:5991)

Ibn Umar (Radiallahu Anhuma) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'The joiner of family ties is not he who (merely) reciprocates, but the joiner of family ties is he who joins ties when one breaks ties with him.' (Bukhari: 5991)  
Umrah is a spiritual journey. It is meant to gain closeness and proximity to Allah Ta’āla. To maximise ones Umrah, it is advisable to seek forgiveness from people we interact and possibly hurt. Seeking forgiveness requires courage and it is an expression of one’s humility which is liked by Allah Ta’āla. The level of Ikhlaas (sincerity) in one makes this task easy. After asking forgiveness, you will feel lighter and be able to focus on your ibaadah in Umrah.  
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Asim Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Venda, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net