Q. My brother has stopped spending time with the family all together. Every time we have a day out planned he will never join, making excuses that he needs to go to the university or whatnot. This frustrates me a lot. He is a really cool guy but now to me it seems like his life and his family is his laptop, t.v, and i pod. How can i get him to be like a big brother again? troubled sister that wants her brother back…

A. Family relations in Islam remain important. To break off without just cause is against Islam.

Your query lacks sufficient data. Naturally, due to your caring and concern, you are to present only your point of view. However, if he is a university student,  his reasoning towards partial detachment may possibly be valid, more so due to his studies  if he is seeking admittance into a highly impacted program.

Possible solution:

Rather than being frustrated as to his choices and reasoning, it would be better to have a family hour or a family day. This is time agreed upon by all, wherein each member would be present to share part of themselves to maintaining family values and ideas.  It would be a time wherein each person agrees to be present and makes a promise to be part of. (For starters, try this out and let us know how it goes in uniting with your ‘bro.’)

Allah Certainly Knows Best.