Having parents, a spouse and children are certainly great bounties of Allah but what about ones extended family?

Grandparents, aunts and uncles, close cousins, don’t you have a feeling of connection with them? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“‏ الْخَالَةُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الأُمِّ ‏”
“The maternal aunt holds the same status as the mother.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1904]

And as is also narrated from Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (RA) that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah, I have committed a grave sin; can I repent? He said: “Do you have a mother?” He said: No. He said: “Do you have a maternal aunt?” He said: Yes. He said: “Then treat her kindly.” [Saheeh at-Targheeb 2504]

This indicates that honouring one’s maternal aunt and treating her kindly come under the heading of virtuous deeds and acts that expiate sins.

Allah also mentions in the Quraan.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. [Surah Ar-Room: 38]

Family is the one of the most important and valuable gifts of our life. The word “Family” means to feel secure with people around you whom you can always count on, whom you can always share your problems, whom you can play with all the time, whom you can freshen up your mood anytime.

What family really means is love. Someone who is always there for you throughout your life, in both good and bad times. Family in essence means encouragement, comfort, advice, values, morals, faith, understanding, hope and lots more. These things are extremely important to all of us, as they make us feel happy inside regardless of whatever is happening in our external life.

Here are some reasons why families are so important and why we should be so grateful for them.

All time Support
Families are important because nobody can live alone all the time. We need others to support us in most of our journey of life. Whether you have been fired from a job or have been through a divorce, there is no one who could better support you other than your own family. Your family is always there to boost your self-esteem no matter how bad the situation is.

Sense of Security
One of the most important mental goal of anyone’s life is to be secured all the time. And family is the one which will provide you that sense of security. However, the strength of family is not an important factor here. All your need is few people around you, under whom you can feel secure and you are done.

Unconditional Love
Just like few of our basic requirements to live life. A human being also requires several other emotional needs like love, which is essential for mental happiness. Families are important because they give us unlimited love, laughter and a feeling of belonging.

Never Alone
No matter where you are roaming the entire day, you always have a home to go back to. In other words, you would never feel lonely in this world.

“Family. Where life begins and love never ends.”

Moral Values
Family is one of the first places where you learn most of the good things in life. From being kind to showing gratitude, to helping others in their bad times. All of these are some of the examples of moral values which only a family can create.

Easy Decision Making
If you have a family, you no longer need to worry about making bigger and challenging decisions in life, as you can always rely on folks who are really experienced and know how to do it. Ultimately, having a strong family would help you to take proper decisions in life.

Forever Friends
Our family will be the one whom we can tell anything and everything. We can talk to them, cry in front of them, or even laugh until our stomach hurts. Friendship with our family members is in our blood.

“Family is not just an important thing. It’s everything.”