Maintaining purdah when keeping family ties
Q: What is more important: segregation between men and women or keeping family ties?
I am asking because in my native place and family, people have almost completely left the rules of segregation between men and women. So, I'm afraid to visit my family members. I have been concerned about the rules of segregation that I stopped visiting my relatives for a long time. But because of this my relations with family members became really bad, which is another bad thing in Deen.
Also, in my current situation I can't survive alone. I need help from my family to survive. I cannot stop visiting them.
Also, many of them are not able to understand my stance on this issue. Many of them are getting a bad image of Islam when I give less importance to family relations. They seem to be going further away from Deen and Imaan because of me.
So, how should I balance?
I am a weak hearted person. I may not be able to boldly oppose the malpractices when I visit my family. Also, I can't bear to see their hearts broken because of me. I am also not able to convince them of our rules.
Now, I am feeling that I should give more importance to maintaing family ties. I am feeling that I should visit them even if I may unintentionally do some sin in the process. Is this the right way to proceed?
A: Both are obligations. Just as fasting and salaah are obligations and both need to be included in deen.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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