It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: I am al-Rahman (the Most Merciful), and this is al-rahim (the tie of kinship). So whoever joins it, I will join him (with My mercy), and whoever severs it, I will cut him off (from My mercy)." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs did not record it. It has also been narrated with clear chains from Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf, Sayyiduna Sa'id bin Zayd, Sayyidah Aishah and Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa'id bin Zayd bin Amr bin Nufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Al-rahim (the tie of kinship) is a branch from al-Rahman. So whoever joins it, Allah will join him, and whoever severs it, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will cut him off (from His mercy)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man went to visit him while he was ill, and Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman said to him: You have maintained the tie of kinship (that is, you have fulfilled the rights of kinship). I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: I am al-Rahman, and this is al-rahim (the tie of kinship); I have derived it from My name. So whoever joins it, I will join him; whoever severs it, I will cut him off; and whoever cuts it off at the root, I will cut him off completely (from My mercy)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: I am al-Rahman. I created al-rahim (the tie of kinship) and derived it from My name. So whoever joins it, I will join him, and whoever severs it, I will cut him off (at the root)."

It is narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu al-Raddad fell ill, and Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf came to visit him. Abu al-Raddad said (in his praise): As far as I know, the best of them and the most devoted to maintaining ties of kinship is Abu Muhammad (Abd al-Rahman bin Awf). Then Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: I am Allah and I am al-Rahman. I created al-rahim (the tie of kinship) and derived it from My name. So whoever joins it, I will join him, and whoever severs it, I will cut him off."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: I am al-Rahman. I created al-rahim and derived it from My name. So whoever joins it, I will join him, and whoever severs it, I will separate him (from My mercy)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: I am al-Rahman. I created al-rahim and derived it from My name. So whoever joins it, I will join him, and whoever severs it, I will cut him off."

Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) visited Abu al-Raddad al-Laythi and said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah Almighty said: I am Allah, I am al-Rahman. I created al-rahim (the tie of kinship) and derived a branch for it from My name. So whoever joins it, I will join him (with My mercy), and whoever severs it, I will cut him off."

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Al-rahim (the tie of kinship) is a branch from Allah (he (peace and blessings be upon him) meant a branch derived from Allah's name 'al-Rahman'). So whoever joins it, Allah will join him (with His mercy), and whoever severs it, Allah will cut him off."