Mourning: Difference between revisions

Mourning is a ritual that takes place at the death of the deceased. Mourning has a long history and since ancient times, it has been held in memory of relatives or religious figures.

Based on historical sources, the history of mourning in Islam goes back to the time of the Prophet (a). Since then, it has been held in different forms in Islamic countries; such as funeral ceremony, the third day after funeral and fortieth day after the person’s demise.

Shia jurists consider it permissible to mourn, cry and lament for the dead; but, according to the fatwa of Sunni jurists, one can only cry silently when mourning the loss of his loved ones. Some Sunni jurists do not consider it permissible to cry loudly or shout for the dead.

Most Shiite mourning ceremonies are religious; i.e., they are held to commemorate religious leaders, including the Prophet (a) and Imams (a) and especially Imam al-Husayn (a). Some Sunni scholars consider this kind of mourning an unlawful innovation and thus forbidden. But, since the past until now, some Sunnis participate in Shia mourning.