The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1860

This noble hadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibits three manifestations of excessive grief that contradict Islamic teachings and the dignity of faith.

Prohibition of Striking the Cheeks

Striking one's cheeks in grief demonstrates a lack of patience and submission to Allah's decree. The believer must accept divine destiny with fortitude, recognizing that all affairs return to Allah.

Prohibition of Rending Garments

Tearing one's clothing was a pre-Islamic practice of exaggerated mourning. Islam teaches moderation in grief and forbids such destructive displays that oppose the believer's dignified acceptance of Allah's will.

Prohibition of Jahiliyyah Calls

The calls of ignorance refer to lamentations, wailing, and expressions of despair characteristic of the pre-Islamic era. The Muslim's response to calamity should be remembrance of Allah and seeking reward through patience.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam an-Nawawi explains that this hadith indicates the gravity of these actions, as the Prophet (ﷺ) distanced such people from the Muslim community. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani clarifies that this exclusion refers to complete embodiment of Islamic character, not necessarily exclusion from the faith itself.

The wisdom behind these prohibitions preserves the dignity of the believer, prevents imitation of disbelievers, and maintains the Islamic principle of patient acceptance of divine decree while allowing natural grief within permissible bounds.