Exposition of the Hadith

This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i (1861) contains profound wisdom regarding Islamic funeral rites and mourning etiquette. The Prophet's words "He is not one of us" constitute a severe censure, indicating the gravity of these prohibited actions during bereavement.

Prohibited Mourning Practices

Shaving the head as a sign of mourning was a pre-Islamic practice that Islam abolished to distinguish Muslim identity and emphasize reliance on divine decree.

Rending garments expresses excessive grief contrary to Islamic patience (sabr) and acceptance of Allah's decree, potentially implying dissatisfaction with divine judgment.

Raising the voice in lamentation (an-niyaha) involves wailing and exaggerated expressions of grief that disturb others and demonstrate lack of contentment with Allah's decree.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam an-Nawawi explains that these prohibitions preserve the dignity of the believer and prevent imitation of pre-Islamic customs. The phrase "not one of us" indicates these actions contradict the complete perfection of Islamic conduct.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that Abu Musa's situation demonstrates the importance of reminding Muslims of proper conduct even in moments of distress, showing how companions upheld Prophetic teachings.

Permissible Mourning

Islam permits natural grief with tears and sadness, as the Prophet wept for his son Ibrahim. What is prohibited is excessive demonstration that contradicts patience and trust in Allah's wisdom.

The lawful mourning period is three days, except for a widow whose mourning period is four months and ten days as specified in the Quran.