• The Rock recently shared deep remorse over severing ties with his late father, urging others to reconcile with loved ones before it’s too late.
• This serves as a stark reminder to us as Muslims. Islam forbids severing family ties, emphasising forgiveness and reconciliation as acts of obedience to Allah.
On Wednesday night, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson revealed his deep regret over failing to reconcile with his father, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson prior to his death.
The 52-year-old first third-generation WWE Superstar had ceased communication with the wrestling pioneer in 2019 following a “massive argument” during a phone call, admitting, “It wasn’t good.”
“Man, I just wish I could hug him one more time, kiss him on the cheek, look him in the eyes, and say, ‘We’re good,’” Dwayne lamented in a heartfelt five-minute video. “All that other s*? You realise it just doesn’t matter when they’re gone, especially when they’re gone. That s***, whatever you were arguing about, it really doesn’t matter.”**
Johnson had been preparing to begin filming a project for Netflix when he received a call from a family friend informing him of Rocky’s death. Rocky had died at 75 from a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis, at the Florida home that The Rock had purchased for him.
Shortly after, the Jumanji actor found himself standing at a podium delivering his father’s eulogy.
‘I don’t want that for you guys,’ Dwayne urged his 552M social media followers. ‘You start to realise, man, my dad loved me – a limited love with a limited capacity that he could love,’ he said.
‘He taught me hard work and he taught me discipline – those two things, I realise, holy s***, those two anchors in my life have taken me so far,’ Johnson said.
‘Now some of the other s***, [laughing] that’s the stuff I don’t want to do and I learned the hard way. But I thank him for those lessons too. Soulman, happy anniversary! I know you’re up there and thank you the lessons.’
The Rock’s words serve as a poignant reminder to us all of the following commandment from Allah:
Surah An-Nisa (4:1):
“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs [i.e., family ties]. Verily, Allah is ever over you, Guardian.”
Surah Muhammad (47:22):
“So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your ties of kinship?”
“The person who severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim)
As we see, the Qur’an and Hadith stress that for us as Muslims, upholding family ties is not merely an emotional choice but a profound moral obligation. Moreover, severing family ties is a serious wrongdoing that will lead to corruption. This is a reminder for Muslims to value and nurture relationships with family.
As Muslims, we are permitted to sever ties in certain contexts, such as marriage, business contracts, or friendships; however, severing ties with family is strictly prohibited. Upon reflecting on this, we can make tadabbur on the profound wisdom behind Allah’s decree, as He has deliberately chosen our familial relations for us. Allah commands us with “Sami’na wa ata’na”—“We hear and we obey.” Furthermore, in cases such as that of The Rock, it is crucial to remember that parents hold specific rights over us, regardless of any wrongs they may have committed.
For many of us, adhering to outward acts of worship—such as observing hijab, performing Hajj, or reciting Qur’an is easy. Yet, this particular commandment, to maintain ties of kinship, can prove far more challenging, particularly when family members have wronged or hurt us. However, Allah, Al-Aleem (The All-Knowing), is aware of our struggles and our pain. Consequently, if you find it difficult to sustain a particular family relationship—whether with a cousin or another relative—turn to Allah in sincere dua to grant you ease. This commandment is not only obligatory but its neglect constitutes a grave sin, one that lies within the heart as an internal transgression.
This serves as a humbling reminder to myself first and foremost, and to all of us. It is easy to drift through life allowing hatred or resentment to harden our hearts. We see cases, for instance, where brothers from the same womb stop speaking to one another over land disputes. Yet, our love for Allah must supersede such feelings. If we seek Allah’s forgiveness, we must first forgive others and reconcile, even if they are at fault. We must strive to ensure that Malik al-Mawt does not find us in a state where we harbour unresolved grievances and moreover, where we have ignored this part of the clause in our contract with Allah. Instead, we pray to be found at the pinnacle of our eman, going to sleep each night with a heart free of grudges, forgiving all for the sake of Allah.
