Mourning: Difference between revisions

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 [[jurist]]s 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 [[Imam]]s (a) and especially [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. Some Sunni scholars consider this kind of mourning an unlawful innovation([[Bid'a]]) and thus [[forbidden]]. But, since the past until now, some Sunnis participate in Shia mourning.

Mourning has long been common in different cultures. It is said that it was also common in pre-Zoroastrian [[Iran]] and there are examples of it in Shahnameh. In the Bible, there are reports about the mourning of Bani Israel in mourning for their lost ones.

According to historical reports, the history of mourning in Islam goes back to the time of the Prophet of Islam (a). For example, Ibn Kathir, a historian of the 8th century AH, wrote that after the [[battle of Uhud]], the women of [[Medina]] mourned their dead. Seeing this scene, the Prophet (a) grieved why there was no one to mourn for [[Hamza]] (who was martyred in the battle of Uhud). So, the women also mourned for Hamza b. [['Abd al-Muttalib]].

Mourning ceremonies for the deceased have different forms in different cultures: in [[Iran]], ceremonies such as Majlis-i Khatm (after burial), the 3rd night (after decease), the 7th night (after decease), the 40th day (after decease), and the anniversary (of decease) are held. In some countries, such as Tajikistan, mourning ceremonies are held on the 20th, 40th days and the anniversary. On the third day after funeral, Indian Muslims hold a ceremony over the tomb of the deceased. Other countries such as [[Egypt]], Azerbaijan and [[Iraq]] also have special rituals for mourning.

According to the [[fatwa]] of Shia [[jurist]]s, it is permissible to cry and lament for the deceased. The author of [[Jawahir]] (d. 1266/1850) wrote that there are many hadiths that acknowledge crying and mourning for the dead as permissible; among which, there are narrations that report the crying of the Prophet (a) in the mourning of his uncle Hamza and his son Ibrahim, and also the narrations about the lamentation of [[Lady Fatima al-Zahra]] (a) upon the demise of the Prophet (a).

==The Sunnites’ point of view==

 

Some mourning ceremonies have religious aspect. Shiites pay special attention to this type of mourning and hold mourning ceremonies for religious leaders such as the Prophet (a), Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a) and [[Imam]]s (a), especially in [[Muharram]] for [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]].

Shia scholars have written numerous books and treatises in defense of mourning and explaining its lawfulness; an example of which is [[Sayyid Muhsin Amin]]’s Iqna' al-la'im 'ala iqamat al-matam.

{{Death}}