THE FIQH DEPARTMENT

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.
Although every Fiqh opinion is based on evidence, often times, the scholars differ in their views. This room for differences is a mercy from Allah, and as long as there is evidence to support an opinion, then we must respect scholars' views, even if we may not always agree.
The Prophet (SAW) said:
"Whoever performs Ijtihad and errs will receive one reward. Whoever performs Ijtihad and arrives at the correct answer gets double the reward"
(Bukhari) 
Wailing Over the Dead PDF Print E-mail
Fiqh: Islamic Jurisprudence - Death
Written by Standing Committee   

Question: Is it allowed to cry for someone after they die? If the crying includes wailing, slapping the cheeks and tearing the clothes, is the deceased affected by it?

Response: Neither lamenting nor wailing is allowed. Tearing clothing, slapping one's cheeks and similar deeds are also not allowed. It is confirmed in the Sahihs of al-Bukhari and Muslim from ibn Masud that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"Not from us is the one who slaps the cheeks, tears the front opening of the shirt or makes the calls of the Days of Ignorance."

It is also confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed the wailer and its audience.1

It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"The deceased is punished in his grave due to the wailing over him"

In another narration, it states,

"The deceased is punished due to the crying of the family over him."2

The Standing Committee

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Footnote

1. Recorded by Abu Dawud and Ahmad. According to al-Albani, the chain of this narration is weak. Muhammad Nasir al-Dinal-Albani, Dhaeef Sunan Abu Dawud (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1991), p. 317.--JZ

2. Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.-- JZ

Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women - Darussalam Pg.135