The Repentance

All human beings are weak. They make mistakes and fall short in their moral and spiritual strengths. They slip, deviate and sin. This is purely human. All of us have heard the famous quote that says, "to err is human, to forgive divine". 
The only thing that makes any human superior over the other is the realization that he or she has sinned or made a mistake. Accepting one's mistake and taking the responsibility of one's sin is what makes him or her different. This does not mean that he or she needs to broadcast the sin or plunge into the guilt forever. It simply means that once the person realizes his sin he must look to rectify it and make amends. 

God has created the human beings and He is Ever Watchful over them. Whenever we fall into error it is God alone Who can save us from that lingering sense of guilt and shame and hold us and give us comfort through our repentance by pouring on us His Mercy and forgiveness
. 
God loves those who repent. 

Many people sin and they sin in different ways. Usually we regard others' sin as grievous and punishable and forget our own follies and blunders. Instead of eyeing the sins and wrongdoings of others we must take a look inside our own selves. 

It is a highly courageous act to be truthful to one's own self. Truth is the only tool that can give us spiritual and moral comfort. Admitting our mistakes first in front of our own self and then turning sincerly toward God and asking Him to forgive the mistake, does wonders to the health of the soul.

Just like our bodies our souls are also in need of healthy food and detoxification. Removing the poison of sin and guilt from our soul can only be possible by adopting Truth and repenting in front of God.

The Quran has one whole chapter with this subject and it is named "The Repentance." Although this chapter has a complete historical background attached to its revelation but it has a general implication for everyone who accept the fact that they are erring and weak and need to turn to God time and again for regular wash-ups and showers to rid themselves of their mistakes and sins.

The very important highlight of this chapter of the Noble Quran is that it emphasises on speaking the Truth. Truthfulness was the virtue that led to the acceptance of repentance of some people at the time of the Prophet peace be upon him. Allah revealed the signs on him to give them the glad tidings that their Tawba or repentance had been accepted because they spoke the Truth. 

To read through the whole chapter kindly visit the link below:

http://www.quran.com/9

O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true. 

Surah Tawba 119

The commentary on this surah or Chapter reads:

The good pleasure of Allah is with those who are sincere and make sacrifices in His cause: He will forgive those who do wrong and repent, but not those who intend mischief and foment unbelief and disunion among believers. The believers by their self surrender obtain eternal felicity. Allah will turn in mercy even to those who, though they waver or fail in duty, turn at last to HIm. 

Those who believe should associate with the righteous and the truthful, actively doing their duty. But if the Community marches out, a part of them should remain behind for the purpose of diligently studying religion and teaching their brethren when they return. Every Surah increases the faith of those who believe, though those diseased in heart may add doubt to doubt. Trust in Allah, Lord of the Throne of Glory.        

Ref., The Noble Quran 

One important fact that directs a person to admitting the mistake and asking for forgiveness is the ability to differentiate between good and evil. Once the person has a clear idea of what is right and what is wrong he is in the position to analyse his own self in that light. The knowledge of right and wrong also comes from God. Every person is born with the innate sense of morality and conscience about good and evil. No person is born misguided or a sinner. A healthy heart and soul are enough signalling sources to let that person know that he has done something wrong. 

Goodness brings happiness and tranquility to the heart and a sin or evil done makes the heart heavy. It wavers in the heart and never lets the person sit in peace. 

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Piety is good manner, and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know of it." 

A hadeeth by Muslim. 

Why one god?

Though I took up Humanities as the stream of my higher education but Science and Religion have always fascinated me.

Humanities are academic disciplines that study human culture. (According to Wikipedia)

Humans in turn are one species and a similar creation in terms of their habitat on this earth. I have always wondered why this simple fact is not understood by many who are content on worshipping many gods that it is impossible for many gods to co-exist and create similar creations like humans, animals, plants and celestial bodies. If there were many gods then there wouldn't be such harmony in all that exists on the face of this earth or outside it. This is quite simple to understand. Many gods will surely have their hold and command on "their particular creation" and they would like to control it as they willed. They would not settle on co-existing and compromising with the other gods and their creations that are present in close co-ordination with their creation and if they do so then they are not having their complete "Will" over what they created. Also, if that were so then they are not supposed to be called "All Powerful."

The Quran discusses this aspect as translated from Arabic from Surah Al Muminoon sign 91:

Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe [concerning Him].

With regard to worshipping "one god" there are numerous signs or ayahs in the Noble Quran.

It is rightly said that those who ponder and comprehend on the signs in them and around them don't have much difficulty in accepting the fact that there can not be more than one Creator.

Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Surah Aal i Imran 18)

As I stated earlier that I have always been fascinated by Science and Religions and this encourages me to read and research other faiths and discoveries in the field of science. I like to know about the experiences and thoughts of the scientists and the sayings in the scriptures of various faiths.

This is not the end. I find it something very interesting that what I find out and understand I must share it with others so that they also get to verify it themselves and ponder over the meaning of life outside the material niche’ that we all are used to live in.

Consider what the following scriptures state about worshipping One True God.

The most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagavad Gita.

"Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."

[Bhagavad Gita 7:20]

The following verses from the Upanishads refer to the Concept of God:

"Ekam evadvitiyam"

"He is One only without a second."

[Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1]1

Brahma Sutra of Hinduism:

"Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan"

"There is only one God, not the second; not at all, not at all, not in the least bit."

Thus, only a dispassionate study of the Hindu scriptures can help one understand the concept of God in Hinduism.

There are many such examples in the Hindu Scriptures.

Not only these, the Christian, Jewish and Sikh scriptures also taught the oneness of the Creator and He being free of any image or form.

It is interesting to note that the mool mantra in Sikhism is as follows:

One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image Of the Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace ~

These and many such examples help you to understand that since time immemorial God has been acknowledged as one and unmatched. Various philosophies have emerged. Scientists have given in at the point where they find a limit to scientific research and involvement. Where all comprehensions end only One remains: That is one True God.

This is what is declared by Muslims when they proclaim Islam as their religion. They bear witness that there is no god but Allah, The God.

The Promises of Satan the accursed

The accursed and rebellious Satan promises certain things regarding his influence on Man. In the Noble Quran, Chapter 4: the Women,  signs 17-21, we can find what he says he would do to his avowed enemy, the sons of Adam. 

They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan.

In these lines Allah tells us about those who worship the Satan and the female deities. Allah forgives every sin if He wills for anyone but He does not forgive Shirk or associating partners with Him in worship when He is alone the One True God. 

Whom Allah has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion.

In this next sign Allah declares that Satan is the one who is accursed. Also we come to know that Satan had rebelled against Allah and became proud of himself telling that he would surely take his portion from Allah's servants.

And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah ." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.

Satan continues to tell that he will

1. Mislead the people 
2. Arouse sinful desires in them
3. Command them to mutilate the animals
4. Command them to change the Creation of Allah

We can clearly observe how he is adamantly doing all this around us. The people who do not have a strong connection with their Creator are easy traps for Satan. He is misleading them to dangerous levels, people are now engaging in things that no one had ever imagined, they are prey to the false world of promises and they are not hesitant to change what is natural and gifted by God.

Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.

But after informing us that Satan will trap us through all these doors Allah clearly says that all his promises are but a delusion. They will lead you nowhere. They will just make a fool out of you and you will suffer disaster and harm.

The refuge of those will be Hell, and they will not find from it an escape.

Such people who will follow the footsteps of Satan will be thrown in Hell along with him. His promises will not avail anything good for them and they will meet a very bad end.

But this is not as gloomy as it seems because in the next few signs we are given reassurance by Allah:

But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allah , [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement.

Allah is telling us that this will not happen to those who are the pious, the righteous ones, those who like goodness and those who do good deeds. Allah will reward them with Paradise. As opposed to the promises of delusion, the Promise of Allah is True and He never breaks His Promise.

What Quran says about Jihad

 Reference: The Noble Quran

Surah At Tauba sign 20

The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah . And it is those who are the attainers [of success].

Here is a good description of Jihad. It may require fighting in Allah's cause, as a form of self sacrifice. But its essence consists in 

1. a true and sincere Faith, which so fixes its gaze on Allah, that all selfish or wordly motives seem paltry and fade away,

1. and an earnest and ceaseless activity, involving the sacrifice (if need be) of life, person, or property, in the service of Allah. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preacher's voice or wealthy man's contributions may be the most valuable forms of Jihad. 

And in Surah Hajj sign 78 Allah says: 

And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah . He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.

Jihad applies to all true and unselfish striving for spiritual good.

Further we come to know that Jihad, one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted terms in Islam, can be carried out through knowledge, wisdom and all the means and capabilities that one is bestowed with to spread the Word of Allah, the message of Islam.

As stated in sign 52 of Surah Al Furqan:

So do not obey the disbelievers, and strive against them with the Qur'an a great striving.

 The distribution of Allah's signs being universal, the Prophet ﷺ of Allah pays no heed to carping critics who reject Faith. He wages the biggest Jihad of all, with the weapon of Allah's Revelation. 

We as Muslims are required to distribute the knowledge of the Quran so that it reaches one and all not to force anyone to accept Islam but to present to them the Message of Islam.

In Surah al Ankabut Allah says:

And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.

"Strive in Our Cause" (Jaahadu): All that man can do is to strive in Allah's cause. As soon as he strives with might and main, with constancy and determination, the Light and Mercy of Allah come to meet him. They cure his defects and shortcomings.. They provide him with the means by which he can raise himself above himself. They point out the Way and all the Paths leading up to it.
The Way of Allah (siratul mustaqeem) is a Straight Way. But men have strayed from it in all directions. And there are numerous Paths by which they can get back to the Right Way, the way in which the purity of their own nature, and the Will and Mercy of Allah require them to walk. All these numerous Paths become open to them if once they give their hearts in keeping to Allah and work in right Endeavour (Jihad) with all their mind and soul and resources. Thus will they get out of the Spider's web of this frail world and attain to eternal Bliss in the fulfilment of their true Destiny. 

Striving in the cause of Allah to spread His Deen and to establish peace and harmony in the world is a bargain worth indulging in.

It would indeed be a great and wonderful bargain to give so little and get so much; if we only knew and understood the comparative value of things -, the sacrifice of our fleeting advantages for forgiveness, the Love of Allah and the Eternal Bliss.  

Help the Helpers!

Our helpers, whether at home or elsewhere are people who deserve our respect. Although they are doing a job which, to some of us is menial and ordinary but in reality their work is something that requires real hardwork and patience. 

Who can ever wish to clean the trash of others and earn money? These people, most of them, do these jobs because they have no other choice. The good part is that they do not choose to beg.

They often bear the rude attitude of their masters and keep quiet and patient because they know it is something they would face with those who do not have a heart for them.

I feel greatly thankful to have Islam as my religion which teaches us the manners to deal with those who are less fortunate and who serve us in different ways. 

Although we pay them but still they are entitled to much kindness and good treatment from us.

Paying does not make them our slaves and we have no right to abuse, exploit or burden them with more work than they can physically bear.

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih

Most of us do not give much importance to this issue of having a helper and taking care of him or her. We just leave all the work undone for them to do and do not feel the need to be a little more thoughtful in this matter. 

For example, when it is nearly the time for your help to arrive for the work you can keep the things partially ready for them to start off. You can assemble all the dishes and utensils that need to be washed in one place.

You can keep the room ready for vacuum cleaning or mopping by removing things that need to be removed or emptying the floor.

The mop can be soaked in advance so that it gives a better result when it is used.

It is not necessary that, since you are owner of the house and he/she the helper, you can become a couch potato and just leave everything unattended.

More than providing them with a little help physically we need to be kind and considerate too.

Sometimes he or she might not be feeling well or will not do the work upto the mark. We should understand the situation and then react.

Another heart warming narration from the Ahadith of our kind Prophet ﷺ is as follows: 

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:  

(Allah (SWT) says:) “I am the opponent of three on the Day of Resurrection, and if I am someone's opponent I will defeat him: A man who makes promises in My Name, then proves treacherous; a man who sells a free man and consumes his price; and a man who hires a worker, makes use to him, then does not give him his wages.” Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih  

The poor people are deprived of so many necessities in their lives. Those of them who choose to work hard instead of begging are worthy of our respect. They are rewarded for all the hardships that they bore in this world by the Almighty as we come of know by a narration:

Narrated `Imran:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I looked at Paradise and saw that the majority of its residents were the poor;.... Sahih al Bukhari 5198 

 Even the words of the most High, the Almighty God mention the poor and the needy at so many places in the Quran. Infact, they have been given special mention whenever there is the mention of charity. 

[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah , unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.

Surah Al Baqarah 263 

 And last but not the least read this beautiful heart softening Hadith narrated in the most authentic of the books of the traditions of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was indeed sent as a mercy to all of humanity:

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When your servant brings food for you and you do not seat him with you, you should at least give him a morsel or two out of it because he has prepared it himself."

[Al- Bukhari].

 The least we can do for someone is to pray for them. I know of a person who always prays after her servant completes all the housework and leaves. She prays: "O Allah! have mercy on the person who has done the work for me!"

Hope we help the helpers by spreading a little kindness and happiness in their life! 

Do we feel secure?

We are amazingly carefree and heedless. Although, day in and day out we see and hear countless mishaps around us. The news is filled with more accidents and calamities than any good news of reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair or development. 

It is possible that the news covers most of the exciting and attention seeking part of the happenings like unusual things, crimes, and alarming events and does not focus much on the calm and serene good things that are also there. But still, as we take a look around us we mostly see people having various problems in life. We hear of people dying either of natural calamities, accidents or murders. The picture comes out to be quite negative. Throughout history we have been shown a big picture of wars and destruction and wiping out of civilizations. And still, today, right at this moment while I type this sentence, hundreds of thousands of people in various parts of the world are going through great difficulties and pain. Some are dying in the hospitals or on the streets, some are going through immense pain of various kinds, some children are being tortured, some women are being abused, some men are been exploited, some people are dying of hunger, some are homeless or jobless and are finding life one miserable thing to carry on with.

Throughout the world there is some or the other kind of calamity going on, natural or imposed.

People don't just die of hunger or illness they also die of the cruelty and heedlessness of those in power.

Whatever the scene may be, we are here at the other end watching, listening to or reading these mishaps. 

Do we feel secure that all this could not happen to us?

Did the girl who was molested ever thought that it could happen to her?

The person who was murdered did ever imagine that one day he would die that way?

Those who were wiped out due to floods, earthquakes and Tsunamis did even dream that their life would end like that?

No one is secure. No one should feel secure of the unwarranted mishaps that might take us away in seconds. 

We recently heard of the Muslims of Burma who had been persecuted by the Buddhists just because they are Muslims. They fled in boats and were stranded at the sea for days. Can we understand their plight?

No, because this is something that we have not witnessed with our own eyes or have been through it. 

If we are at a position where we sit in the comfort of our offices or homes, enjoying peaceful and seemingly secure life, we must not become heedless of the chance that we might also suffer something that can cost us our lives. 

How can we feel 100% secure when we do not have power over anything?

We take things too lightly and do not want to burden ourselves with the overwhelming thought of accountability and vulnerability. 

Those who talk of sensitivity, care, consciousness and a conscience that is constantly aware of the fact that our life is just a matter of numbered breaths, are considered as "pessimists"or "negative"thinkers.

We should be constantly aware that the One Who has power over all things, the One Who has created us and this world, has the power to shake us up if He sees that His slaves are not behaving well. Or this might just be a test for the believing ones. 

As mentioned by Allah in His noble Words:

"Then do you feel secure that [instead] He will not cause a part of the land to swallow you or send against you a storm of stones? Then you would not find for yourselves an advocate."

Chapter The Night Journey Sign 68

 The point I am trying to make is that one should not live a heedless life. One should not see the mishaps as things happening on the other side of the world which is far from me. They could not happen to me. I am healthy, doing fine, living comfortably so I am quite safe-this is true and we should be thankful for it! But the way to thank God for keeping us safe is to have a heart for those who are not safe and never to feel secure from the Power of the Creator Who is Ever Watchful over us.

"Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?"

Chapter The Sovereignty Sign 16

This earth, that we inhabit, is a Creation. It is controlled by God. The inhabitants of this world are humans; intelligent and responsible beings. When they become heedless of their purpose here, the Almighty has all the Power to remind them and His ways are known to Him alone. He can give respite to anyone He wants and He can be quick in punishment for anyone He Wishes.

"Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning."

Chapter  The Sovereignty Sign 17

So, let us not live a life of heedlessness and be conscious of our vulnerability as a mere creation of the All Powerful, the Almighty God.

Let us be humble and always think of a larger purpose of our life  and our existence,
our purpose and our goal of life,
should be larger than life itself. 

The daily dose

All praise is due to the Lord of the worlds the Almighty Allah and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Prayer is a very important part of Islam. It is the rememberance of the Creator and keeping in touch with Him. Muhammad peace be upon him used to say that Prayer is the coolness of his eyes.

Prayer is the way to Paradise. 

The more a person remembers Allah in his or her prayers and the more he prostrates, he is entitled and hopeful to enter the Paradise.

The victorious are the ones who establish prayer at the appointed time.

Prayer is the best way to adopt when one is going through tough times. It is said in the Quran that we should ask help by practising patience and establishing prayers. 

All the prophets mentioned in the Quran and the Ahadith used to pray and fast and we come to know this through the Quran and Ahadith.  

Those who seek the Guidance of God are the ones who establish prayers.

The believers do not approach Salaah or prayer in callousness or laziness.

Those who pray with careless ness and with show off are not successful in the Hereafter. 

Leaving the prayers are the ways of ignorant and misguided people.

These and many more reflections and facts found in the Quran and Ahadith of our beloved Prophet show us the importance of Prayers.

Prayer is the only thing that apparently differentiates between a believer and a non believer.

Establishing the daily prayers is like adorning oneself with the Grace of Allah and moving about in submission and obedience. 

It is like one has taken the daily dose of spiritual power and connection with the Creator. If one is conscious of the fact that one is just a creation of God, and always remembers Him, the best way to keep this in one's daily routine is through prayers.

We as Muslims are truly blessed to have a prescribed daily dose of prayers for us which no doubt instills amazing displine and humility. We are required to be clean in a particular way to prepare ourselves for the five daily prayers and there is nothing that we need while we perform the prayer, like some specific things that sometimes are required in various rituals of some cultures.

The rememberance of the Lord is in our hearts. We just rehearse His words and perform the whole action of the prayer the way our Prophet guided us to. One is required to utter the Words of the Creator and some supplications taught by the Prophet, peace be upon him. 

This daily dose is immensely helpful in making us spiritually healthy and continually connected to the Creator and it also has physical benefits. 

The Obligations

Giving everything its due value is Justice. 

The word Haqq in Arabic denotes justice in giving the due importance and regard to people and things and the greatest Haqq is to give the Creator His credit by worshipping Him alone without associating partners.

Huququllaah and Huququl Ibad are the terms used to represent the rights of God and the Rights of people respectively. 

The opposite is Zulm.  When we don't give people or things their due rights or value and when we don't put things in their due places it is called zulm or Injustice. Every living being has its value. 

Not giving the Haqq is Zulm.

Huququllah or the Rights of the Creator 

Unless and until we acknowledge, understand and have firm belief in the Oneness of God and His Supremacy we can never realize how He should be obeyed and how he should be feared. The creatures have the obligation to know Who created them, where they have come from and to where they belong. They have the obligation to know and believe in the Creator and Worship Him as He should be worshiped. 

In Chapter 2 Ayah 102 Allah says:

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].

This is not for Allah, rather it is we who benefit in this world and would benefit greatly in the Hereafter if we give our Creator His right to be worshipped and obeyed.

A Muslim or a person who has submitted his or her will to the Will of Allah has achieved the status of a believer and he enjoys the fruits of Iman in both the worlds. The ultimate aim or success for him is nothing but the Pleasure of Allah.

The ultimate objective of a true Muslim is to gain Divine pleasure and attain success on the Day of Judgment. For achieving this objective we get detailed guidance from Qur’an and Sunnah regarding our religious obligations, which may be described with reference to the following three important terms:  (1) Personal enslavement to God, (2) Acting as witnesses unto all of mankind, and  (3) Establishing the system of social justice of Islam.  We have clearly spelled out the pre-requisites of these duties at length. 

                                                                   Dr Israr Ahmad in The Obligations to God 

This is an amazing topic and one can write on and on about the Greatness of Allah and His blessings and Mercy to all His creatures whether they are believers or not. Allah guides Whom He wills and those who fulfill their rights as Muslims hope and pray for the True Success that is promised by their Lord.

Huququl Ibaad or the Rights of the people

Apart from Huququllah, a believer is also required to fulfill the rights of his near relatives, neighbours etc. These are called Huququl Ibaad which are based on Justice and morality. Among them the parents are the most important people. A mother has great rights in Islam and there are numerous verses and Ahadith to back this obligation.

This does not complete the whole picture but...

the others who are entitled to be taken care of and given due value are the blood relatives.
Among them we can count our own siblings, to cousins and other relatives.
Allah wants us to be kind to them and to give them due respect and importance. 

“Blood relations, like a brother, parental or maternal uncle, cousins and all your kindred have the right to kinship each in accordance with his or her nearness. Allah Almighty says: "And give to the kindred his due." 
(Al-Isra’: 26) 
And, "Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kins-folk..." 
(An-Nisa’ 4: 36)

Relatives have to maintain good ties and extend physical and financial support in accordance with the relative exigencies and nearness of kinship. It is an injunction dictated by canonical laws, reason and human nature.Qura’nic and Prophetic texts emphasize the necessity of cementing kindred ties and maintaining them abound.

The Prophet, peace be blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain good relation with his kindred.” 
(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Unfortunately, a lot of people have neglected this right and no longer discharge their obligations, material, social or moral towards their kin. Days and long months could elapse without even paying one's relations a visit or gaining their favor with a present. It has become a habit that one finds it difficult to even try to satisfy a certain need or ward off a misfortune that happens to befall them.

Some people behave differently. They maintain good ties as long as their kindred do the same, but otherwise they sever them. Real cherishing of blood relation is not observed in anticipation of equal reaction on the part of one’s kin; but the ties should be maintained for Allah’s sake only, maybe this is done from one side only while neglecting the behavior of the other side in its return. 
`Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`Aas quotes the Prophet, peace be blessings be upon him, as saying: "Al-Wasil (one who maintain good relation with his kinship) is not the one who recompenses the good done to him by his relatives, but Al-Wasil is the one who keeps good relations with those relatives who have severed the bond of kinship with him." 
(Reported by al-Bukhari)

Abu Hurairah quotes a person as saying: 
“O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives with whom I try to have close relationship, but they sever (this relation). They return my good treatment with bad behavior, my kind approach with harsh manner. Upon this he (the Prophet) said: “If it is so as you say, then you in fact throw hot ashes (upon their faces) and so long as you adhere to this (path of righteousness), Allah will always help you and He will protect you against their mischief." 
(Reported by Muslim)

Maintaining good ties with one's kindred is bound to earn one Allah's mercy, affluence and deliverance from distress, in addition to amity, attachment and spirit of cooperation that will envelop the whole atmosphere of the family in both adversity and prosperity. It goes without saying that severance of kinship ties melt away all these benefits and sow the fruit of discord among relatives.”Allah Almighty knoes best.

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from http://www.iad.org/Islam/rkin.html

Reference:  http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-the-scholar/family/ties-of-kinship/175619-islams-care-for-ties-of-kinship

In some verses where the Muhajireen and Ansaar are mentioned and the law of inheritance was being discussed Allah mentions the importance of blood relatives and their right of inheritance. 

And those who believed afterwards, and emigrated and strove hard along with you, (in the Cause of Allah) they are of you. But kindred by blood are nearer to one another regarding inheritance in the decree ordained by Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of everything.

Surah Anfal 75

The blood relatives (mother, father, brothers, sisters etc.) therefore, have a relationship that is acknowledged by the Creator Himself and it should by no means be belittled by anyone. The life and practice of Muhammad ﷺ  tells us that the elders should be respected, the younger ones should be dealt with mercy and care and they should all support each other by all means. 
It is indeed not giving Haqq when someone gives preference to other distant relatives over the nearest relatives. This is something which is against the simple logic as well as the moral obligation as dictated by our beautiful and Just religion Islam.

Islam is based on Truth and Justice and this is what it requires us to do as wise and informed believers who take their notes from the Quran and Sunnah; these being the constant Guide and teachers in our life. 

To conclude, the only thing to be kept in mind while giving everyone and everything its due and its Haqq we must first realize its importance and place in our life. For example we are required to love Allah above anyone and anything else. After Him is the Messenger of Allah Muhammad ﷺ who should be given preference over everyone and even our own selves. 

Under this category of obligation we can have people ranging from our near relatives to those who are absolutely unrelated like the poor people, the orphans, the wayfarer, the traveller, the companions and the neighbours. We have to give each of them their due rights and have a clear understanding of what our duties toward them are. 

Consequently, a person is required to give the people in his life importance which is due unto them. This is the way to maintain a balance in our worldly life as a whole and to ensure that we get our due reward in the Hereafter inshaAllah! 

Give everybody his right and everything will be all right.