A Heavy Heart: My Brother’s Abuse and My Limits

Bismillah, I’m writing this with a heavy heart, seeking advice from fellow Muslims. My younger brother, who is around 17 or 18, has been abusive towards our mother for years. It pains me to even call him a brother, but I do so for clarity. He was caught smoking, and I fear he may be involved in worse things, perhaps drugs. Our mother raised us alone, sacrificing so much, and no one in our family has ever behaved as he does. Recently, he grabbed her by the neck, and she felt faint afterward. She hid it from us initially, afraid it would spark a fight. The words he throws at her are vile-he says she never cared for him, calls her stingy, uses caste-based insults, and even disrespects our late grandfather, mocking his marriages. He’s hit her and often acts like a thug, getting in her face to intimidate her. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve been warning my mother about his path since I was just 10 years old. For the last 7 to 8 years, I’ve tried to intervene, but each time I’m blamed and made out to be the problem. Now we’re in a mess none of us can control. My mother has become so fed up that she’s cursed him in anger multiple times. When I try to talk things through, it usually ends with her in tears, my brother and I fighting, and me later seeking her forgiveness with regret. This cycle has repeated countless times. I’m exhausted. I don’t think I can change his character anymore. Every attempt just paints me as the villain. I have my own work, duties, and future to think about. We have no father, and my mother gave everything for us-she’s the reason we’re here. Seeing her suffer is torture. My question is this: If I step back from intervening now, would I be sinful? I’ve truly tried for over 7 years, and each time, it only causes more pain-my mother cries, I clash with him, and everyone hurts. I feel like my involvement only worsens things. JazakAllah khair for any guidance.