Rekindling Broken Bonds: Don’t Let This Ramadan Pass in Regret

I once received a message from a man who was drowning in regret. His younger brother had passed away suddenly in a car accident. They hadn’t spoken in years, over something so small that now seemed laughable. But neither of them had wanted to be the first to apologize.

Then, in the blink of an eye, his brother was gone. No more chances. No more “maybe next Eid.” No more “I’ll call him later.”

With tears in his voice, he said to me, “I stood by his grave, screaming in my heart, ‘Please come back! Just for five minutes. Let me say I’m sorry. Let me hug you one last time.’ But I was talking to dirt. I thought I had time. I didn’t.”

How many of us are making the same mistake?

Ramadan is here. The month of mercy, of forgiveness, of new beginnings. Yet, some of us are carrying grudges like chains around our hearts. We stand in Taraweeh, we raise our hands in dua, we beg Allah to forgive us, while refusing to forgive someone else.

Do we not fear that Allah will deal with us as we deal with others?

Allah ﷻ has warned us against cutting ties. He says in the Quran:

    فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَن تُفْسِدُوا فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوٓا أَرْحَامَكُمْ ۝ أُو۟لَـٰئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ
“So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your ties of kinship? Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He deafened them and blinded their vision.” (Surah Muhammad 47:22-23)

Did you hear that? A curse. Not just a sin , Allah’s curse upon the one who breaks ties.

How many Ramadans have passed while we’ve refused to pick up the phone and say, “Let’s move on”? How many Eid mornings have we prayed in the masjid, then walked past a family member we swore never to speak to again?

We are fasting, we are praying, but we are blocking our own path to Jannah with pride.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

    لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ قَاطِعٌ
“The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Let that sink in.

What if your worship, your fasting, your charity, what if none of it is enough because you have refused to heal a broken bond?

What if, on the Day of Judgment, you stand before Allah, begging for His mercy, only to be told: “You did not show mercy to your own brother. You did not forgive your sister. Why should I forgive you?”

It takes strength to hold onto anger. But it takes even more strength to let it go.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

    مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ
“Whoever wishes for his provision to be increased and his lifespan to be extended, let him maintain ties of kinship.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Do you want barakah in your life? In your money? In your time? In your health? Fix your relationships.

Do you want Allah to bless your Ramadan, to forgive your sins, to answer your duas? Fix your relationships.

How to Take the First Step Before It’s Too Late
    1.    Make Dua for a Soft Heart – Ask Allah to help you forgive and let go.
    2.    Send a Message Today – Even if it’s just “Salam, I miss you. Let’s move forward.”
    3.    Look Beyond the Ego – Apologizing does not make you weak; it makes you the better person.
    4.    Give a Gift or an Invitation – A small gesture can heal years of pain.
    5.    Remember Death – No one knows if this is their last Ramadan.

Before you raise your hands and ask Allah for His mercy, ask yourself—have you shown mercy to others?

Before you take that first sip of water, let go of the bitterness in your heart.

Before you let another Ramadan pass, thinking, “Maybe next year,”—realize that “next year” is not promised.

Call them. Message them. Hug them.

Because the only thing worse than swallowing your pride now is swallowing your regret later.

May Allah soften our hearts, mend our relationships, and make this the Ramadan where we truly free ourselves from the chains of anger and resentment. Ameen.