Mixing with relatives who backbite

The attribute of patience is a high status with which Allaah
blesses whomsoever He wills among His slaves, to make it easy for them to
obey His commands and heed His prohibitions. Your attempts to bring people
together and to get closer to your relatives is a praiseworthy effort which
points to your success and correct thinking. For many people, if they are
faced with even a part of what you have suffered, quickly lose patience and
respond to cutting off of ties in like manner, because they think that
upholding family ties is only obligatory when relatives respond in the same
manner. This is a mistaken notion and the fact that it is mistaken is
indicated by the hadeeth which was narrated from Abu Hurayrah, which says
that a man said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I have relatives with whom I uphold
the ties of kinship but they cut me off; I treat them well but they mistreat
me; I am patient with them but they treat me in an ignorant manner.”  The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If it is as
you say, then it is as if you are stuffing hot ashes [in their mouths], and
you will have with you [an angel] from Allaah to support you against them so
long as you continue to be like that.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 2285).  

In this hadeeth, a man came to the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) complaining of his relatives’ bad treatment
of him, and in his complaint he mentioned something similar to what you have
mentioned: he upheld the ties of kinship but they cut him off, he treated
them well but they treated him badly. Yet despite that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him that if he was telling
the truth, then his situation with them would be like one fills their mouths
with ashes, so he is the one who is doing the right thing, and he would
continue to have support from Allaah against them. The general meaning of
the hadeeth is to encourage the upholding of family ties even with those who
doe not themselves uphold those ties. Praise be to Allaah that this is what
you have done and have forced yourself to do. I ask Allaah to help you to do
that which is good. 

After that there is nothing more that you can do except to
follow one good deed with another, one kind action with another. If they
mistreat you then do to them the opposite of that which they have done to
you. 

You should note that when you do that, you are doing it only
to earn the pleasure and mercy of Allaah. Do not expect any response to your
good deed from them. But try not to tell people what they are doing to you.
If you think that one of the causes of this problem is too much contact with
them, there is nothing wrong with your reducing your visits with them. 

Pray to Allaah to guide them; pray to Him when you are
certain of a response, for Allaah is Able to turn their hatred into love and
their neglect into close ties. 

With regard to your question about du’aa’s that will help you
to be patient when faced with difficulties, there are many such du’aa’s, and
we will tell you some of them here: 

-1- 

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: “When faced with difficulties the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) would say: ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah
al-‘Azeem al-Haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb il-‘Arsh il-‘Azeem, laa
ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb ul-samawaati wa Rabb ul-‘Arsh il-Kareem (There is
no god except Allaah, the Almighty, the Forbearing; there is no god except
Allaah the Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god except Allaah, Lord of
the heavens and Lord of the noble Throne).’”  (Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
7426). 

According to a report narrated by Muslim: “When the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was concerned about an
important matter or when he was worried…” (Muslim, 2130). 

-2- 

It was narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: “When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was
distressed by something, he would say, ‘Ya Hayyu, ya Qayyoom, bi
rahmatika astagheeth (O Ever-Living, O Eternal One, by Your mercy I seek
help).’” (narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3524); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4777). 

We also want to tell you of something
important which will help you to be more patient and will give you certain
faith in Allaah, especially when you are upset and worried. This is
something which many people neglect. Do you know what it is? 

It is prayer, for prayer has a great effect in bringing peace
to the heart and in dispelling worries and distress. It is one of the
greatest means of being patient. This is indicated by the Qur’aan and
Sunnah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And seek help in patience and As-Salaah (the prayer) and
truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khaashi‘oon [i.e. the
true believers in Allaah — those who obey Allaah with full submission, fear
much from His punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise) and in His
Warnings (Hell)]”

[al-Baqarah 2:45] 

Prayer is the greatest thing by means of which help may be
sought.

 And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

 “Indeed, We know that your breast
is straitened at what they say.

So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who
prostrate themselves (to Him).

And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the
certainty (i.e. death)” [al-Hijr 15:97-99]

 Imaam Ibn Jareer al-Tabari said in his Tafseer: “ ‘So
glorify the praises of your Lord’: with regard to
matters which are worrying you, turn to Allaah and give thank to Allaah and
praise Him, and pray, and Allaah will take care of that which is troubling
you.

 This is similar to the hadeeth narrated from the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): ‘When something troubled
him, he would turn to prayer.’” (7/553)

 Finally I ask Allaah the Almighty, the Lord of the Mighty
Throne, to bless us and you with certain faith, for He is Able to do that.

 And Allaah knows best.