Mourning: Difference between revisions

 

Mourning is a ceremony held in sadness for the demise of someone. Mourning ceremonies are held to express sadness for the loss of loved ones or religious figures.

 

According to historical reports, the history of mourning in Islam goes back to the time of the [[Prophet of Islam (s)]]. For example, Ibn Kathir, a historian of the 8th/14th century, wrote that after the [[battle of Uhud]], the women of [[Medina]] mourned their dead. Seeing this scene, the Prophet (s) 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, [[India|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. [[Muhammad Hasan al-Najafi]] the author of ''[[Jawahir al-kalam (book)|Jawahir al-kalam]]'' (d. 1266/1850) wrote that there are many [[hadith]]s that acknowledge crying and mourning for the dead as permissible; among which, there are narrations that report the crying of the [[Prophet (s)]] in the mourning of his uncle Hamza and his son [[Ibrahim Son of the Prophet (s)|Ibrahim]], and also the narrations about the lamentation of [[Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] upon the [[demise of the Prophet (s)]].