Hadith Text

"He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, and calls the calls of the Jahiliyyah."

Source Reference

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1864 - The Book of Funerals

Scholarly Commentary

This profound hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes the Islamic etiquette of patience during calamities, particularly when facing death. The three prohibited actions represent extreme manifestations of grief that contradict Islamic teachings.

"Striking the cheeks" refers to the physical expression of excessive grief that harms oneself. "Rending the garment" symbolizes the dramatic tearing of clothes in anguish, a practice common in pre-Islamic ignorance. "Calls of the Jahiliyyah" denotes the wailing, lamentations, and invocations of despair that characterized the Age of Ignorance before Islam.

The declaration "He is not one of us" serves as a severe warning, indicating that such behavior represents a departure from the fundamental Islamic principles of submission to Divine decree and patient endurance. This does not necessarily imply complete exclusion from the Muslim community, but rather highlights the gravity of such actions as being contrary to the spirit of Islam.

Islam permits natural expressions of grief and sadness, but prohibits exaggerated displays that demonstrate dissatisfaction with Allah's decree. The believer is taught 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, recognizing that everything occurs by Allah's wisdom and decree.