Followers

2 December 2012

Mourning Is Only For 3 Days



Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama: When the news of the death of Abu Sufyan reached from Sham, Um Habiba on the third day, asked for a yellow perfume and scented her cheeks and forearms and said,

"No doubt, I would not have been in need of this, had I not heard the Prophet saying:

"It is not legal (permissible) for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days for any dead person except her husband, for whom she should mourn for four months and ten days." (Sahi Bukhari 2.370)

In some Muslim countries on the first Eid after a close relatives death the family usually don’t celebrate properly (when the relative passed away many months ago). they do not follow the Sunnah of wearing new cloths, meeting and wishing relatives. this is not right. In Islam, the period of mourning has been limited to three days except for the widow who remains in iddah for 4 months and 10 days. Eid is a blessing from Allah and to miss Eid due to a death that happened months ago is not recognised as an Islamic practice.

Eid is celebration which was celebrated every year by the Prophet (peace be upon him) even in years which may have had accidents and losses.

Islam encourages us to limit our grieving to three days (except for the husband which is 4 months and 10 days), so as to allow the family and friends of the deceased to get over the loss and recover.

However, this is not to say that it is prohibited to remember and feel sad over the loss a loved one as the Prophet (peace be upon him) often used to remember his dear deceased wife Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) long after her death. (At the occasion of his daughter Fatima and also when he received her jewellery from Zainab (may Allah be pleased with them) as ransom for her husband Abul aas (may Allah be pleased with hem))

However, missing a sunnah, like celebrating on Eid, due to the death of a family member in that year is against the principals of Islam is not allowed.

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