Abu Musa said he fell unconscious and an Umm Walad of his wept. When he woke up, he asked her: "Have you not heard what the Messenger of Allah said?" She said: "He said: 'He is not one of us who raises his voice in lamentation, shaves his head, or rends his garments.""
The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1865
This narration from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari concerns the prohibition of excessive mourning practices in Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explicitly condemned three specific actions associated with pre-Islamic jahiliyyah customs.
Scholarly Commentary
The phrase "he is not one of us" indicates the severe prohibition of these actions, as they contradict Islamic teachings on patience and submission to divine decree. Raising voices in lamentation demonstrates impatience with Allah's decree.
Shaving the head was a pagan mourning ritual expressing extreme grief. Rendering garments symbolizes tearing apart what Allah has provided and displays dissatisfaction with divine judgment.
The incident demonstrates the companions' vigilance in implementing prophetic teachings, even in moments of apparent unconsciousness. Abu Musa's immediate correction of his Umm Walad reflects the importance of upholding Islamic etiquette during trials.
Legal Rulings
Scholars classify these three actions as prohibited (haram) based on this hadith. The prohibition applies to both men and women, though women have more latitude in expressing grief through weeping without raising voices.
These restrictions aim to cultivate sabr (patience) and prevent imitation of non-Islamic mourning practices. The believer must accept Allah's decree with contentment while permitted to shed tears quietly.