Hadith Text & Context

"He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, and calls the calls of the Jahiliyyah." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 1862)

This profound narration from The Book of Funerals in Sunan an-Nasa'i addresses the proper Islamic conduct when facing calamity, particularly death.

Prohibited Actions Explained

Striking the cheeks: This refers to excessive physical displays of grief that harm oneself and demonstrate rejection of divine decree.

Rending the garment: Tearing one's clothes was a pre-Islamic practice expressing extreme anger or grief against fate, which Islam forbids.

Calls of Jahiliyyah: This includes wailing, screaming, invoking misfortune, or using the lamentation phrases of the Age of Ignorance that contradict Islamic belief in divine destiny.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam an-Nawawi explains that "not one of us" means not following the complete way of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in patience and submission to Allah's will.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani clarifies this doesn't take the person outside Islam entirely, but indicates they're committing a major sin contrary to prophetic guidance.

The prohibition serves to distinguish Muslim conduct from pre-Islamic practices, emphasizing dignified patience (sabr) and remembrance that we belong to Allah and to Him we return.

Permissible Mourning

Islam permits natural grief with tears and sadness, as the Prophet wept for his son Ibrahim. What's forbidden is excessive outward displays that suggest discontent with divine decree.

The prescribed response is to say "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return) and seek reward through patience.