Zainab bint Abi Salamah said: "I entered upon Umm Habibah, the wife of the Prophet when her father Sufyan bin Harb died. So she asked for some perfume that had something yellow saffron or something else, so a girl applied it to her and put some on her cheeks. Then she said: 'By Allah! I have no need for perfume except that I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "It is not lawful for a woman who believers in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for the dead more than three days, except for her husband (in which case it is) four months and ten days."
The Book on Divorce and Li'an - Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1195
Contextual Analysis
This narration from Zainab bint Abi Salamah concerns Umm Habibah, one of the Mothers of the Believers, upon the death of her father Abu Sufyan. The incident demonstrates how the Companions meticulously implemented the Prophet's teachings even in moments of personal grief.
Legal Ruling on Mourning Period
The hadith establishes the Islamic ruling that a believing woman may not observe mourning (ihdad) for any deceased relative beyond three days, except in the case of her husband's death, where the mourning period extends to four months and ten days. This distinction emphasizes the unique status of the marital bond in Islam.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that mourning involves abstaining from perfume, adornment, and colorful clothing. Umm Habibah's application of perfume immediately after her father's death demonstrates her compliance with the three-day limit for non-spousal relatives. The four-month-ten-day period for a widow corresponds to the prescribed waiting period (iddah) after a husband's death, serving both as mourning and to ascertain possible pregnancy.
This ruling applies specifically to women, as men are not required to observe such formal mourning periods. The wisdom behind this legislation protects women's emotional well-being while maintaining social stability and family obligations.