Weeping for the Dead - Section 1

Anas said:

We went in with God’s messenger to visit Abu Saif the smith who was foster-father of Ibrahim (The Prophet’s son who died in infancy), and God’s messenger took Ibrahim, kissed him and smelt him. We went in to visit him later when Ibrahim was giving up his soul, and tears began to fall from God’s messenger's eyes, whereupon ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf said to him, “You too, messenger of God?” He replied, “Ibn ‘Auf, it is compassion,” then shed more tears and said, “The eye weeps and the heart grieves, but we say only what our Lord is pleased with, and we are grieved over being separated from you, Ibrahim.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: دَخَلْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَبِي سَيْفٍ الْقَيْنِ وَكَانَ ظِئْرًا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَقَبَّلَهُ وَشَمَّهُ ثُمَّ دَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ يَجُودُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَجَعَلَتْ عَيْنَا رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَذْرِفَانِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ: وَأَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ:

يَا ابْنَ عَوْفٍ إِنَّهَا رَحْمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهَا بِأُخْرَى فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الْعَيْنَ تَدْمَعُ وَالْقَلْبَ يَحْزَنُ وَلَا نَقُولُ إِلَّا مَا يُرْضِي رَبَّنَا وَإِنَّا بِفِرَاقِك يَا إِبْرَاهِيم لَمَحْزُونُونَ

Usama b. Zaid said the Prophet’s daughter sent him a message telling him that a son of hers was dying and asking him to come to them. He sent her a greeting, saying at the same time, “What God has taken belongs to Him, what He has given belongs to Him, and He has an appointed time for everyone, so let her show endurance and seek her reward from God.” She then sent adjuring him to come to her, and he got up to go accompanied by Sa'd b. ‘Ubada, Mu'adh b. Jabal, Ubayy b. Ka'b, Zaid b. Thabit and some other men. The boy who was on the point of death (This is an attempt to express the meaning of the Arabic which says literally ‘his soul was disquieted [or, restless]) was lifted up to God’s messenger whose eyes overflowed with tears. Sa'd said, “What is this, messenger of God?” He replied, “This is compassion which God has placed in the hearts of His servants. God shows compassion only to those of His servants who are compassionate.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: أَرْسَلَتِ ابْنَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيْهِ: إِنَّ ابْنًا لِي قُبِضَ فَأْتِنَا. فَأَرْسَلَ يُقْرِئُ السَّلَامَ وَيَقُولُ: «إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى وَكُلٌّ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ» . فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِ تُقْسِمُ عَلَيْهِ لَيَأْتِيَنَّهَا فَقَامَ وَمَعَهُ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَمُعَاذُ بْنُ جبل وَأبي بن كَعْب وَزيد ابْن ثَابِتٍ وَرِجَالٌ فَرُفِعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّبِيُّ وَنَفْسُهُ تَتَقَعْقَعُ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ. فَقَالَ سَعْدٌ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا هَذَا؟ فَقَالَ: «هَذِهِ رَحْمَةٌ جَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِ عِبَادِهِ. فَإِنَّمَا يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الرُّحَمَاء»

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar said that when Sa'd b. ‘Ubada complained of a trouble, the Prophet (ﷺ) came to visit him accompanied by ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf, Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas and ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud. On entering and finding him in a bad way (Or, in a faint) he suggested that his end was near, but was assured that that was not so. The Prophet (ﷺ) wept, and when the people saw him weeping they wept also. He then said, "Listen; God does not punish for the tears the eye sheds or the grief the heart experiences, but He punishes for this (pointing to his tongue), or He shows compassion; and the dead is punished because of his family’s weeping for him."( Cf. the second tradition in section III where 'A’isha says Ibn ‘Umar has forgotten or made a mistake. This has given rise to much discussion and efforts have been made to show that the tradition of Ibn ‘Umar refers particularly to excessive weeping and wailing, or to the desire of pre-Islamic Arabs that people should lament them to an excessive extent when they died. The reference to the tongue indicates loud lamentation in contrast to silent weeping) (Bukharl and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: اشْتَكَى سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ شَكْوًى لَهُ فَأَتَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعُودُهُ مَعَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ وَسَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَجَدَهُ فِي غَاشِيَةٍ فَقَالَ: (قَدْ قَضَى؟ قَالُوا: لَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَبَكَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَوْمُ بُكَاءَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَكَوْا فَقَالَ: أَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ؟ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُعَذِّبُ بِدَمْعِ الْعَيْنِ وَلَا بِحُزْنِ الْقَلْبِ وَلَكِنْ يُعَذِّبُ بِهَذَا وَأَشَارَ إِلَى لِسَانِهِ أَوْ يَرْحَمُ وَإِن الْمَيِّت لعيذب ببكاء أَهله

'Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, "He who beats the cheeks, tears the front of the garments, and cries out as people did in pre-Islamic times, does not belong to us." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ ضَرَبَ الْخُدُودَ وَشَقَّ الْجُيُوبَ وَدَعَا بِدَعْوَى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ»

Abu Burda said that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari fainted and his wife Umm ‘Abdallah began to shout with a piercing cry. He then came round, and asking her if she was quite ignorant, he told her that God’s messenger had said, "I have no connection with one who shaves, shouts and tears his clothing." (Bukharl and Muslim, the wording being Muslim's.)

وَعَن أبي بردة قَالَ: أُغمي على أبي مُوسَى فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ أُمُّ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ تَصِيحُ بِرَنَّةٍ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ: أَلَمْ تَعْلَمِي؟ وَكَانَ يُحَدِّثُهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَنَا بَرِيءٌ مِمَّنْ حَلَقَ وَصَلَقَ وَخَرَقَ» . وَلَفظه لمُسلم

Abu Malik al-Ash'ari reported God’s messenger as saying, "Among my people there are four characteristics belonging to the pre-Islamic period which they do not abandon:

boasting of high rank, reviling other people’s genealogies, seeking rain by the stars, and wailing." And he said, "If the wailing-woman does not repent before she dies, she will be made to stand on the day of resurrection wearing a garment of pitch and a chemise of mange.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

أَرْبَعٌ فِي أُمَّتِي مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ لَا يَتْرُكُونَهُنَّ: الْفَخْرُ فِي الْأَحْسَابِ وَالطَّعْنُ فِي الْأَنْسَابِ وَالِاسْتِسْقَاءُ بِالنُّجُومِ وَالنِّيَاحَةُ

. وَقَالَ: «النَّائِحَةُ إِذَا لَمْ تَتُبْ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهَا تُقَامُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَعَلَيْهَا سِرْبَالٌ مِنْ قطران وَدرع من جرب» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas told that when the Prophet (ﷺ) came upon a woman weeping at a grave he said, "Fear God and show endurance.” She, not recognising him, replied, "Go away, for you have not been afflicted as I have.” She was told that he was the Prophet, so she went to his door, and finding no doorkeepers there she said, "I did not recognise you." He replied, "Endurance is shown only at the first blow.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِامْرَأَةٍ تَبْكِي عِنْدَ قَبْرٍ فَقَالَ: «اتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَاصْبِرِي» قَالَتْ: إِلَيْكَ عَنِّي فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَبْ بِمُصِيبَتِي وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْهُ فَقِيلَ لَهَا: إِنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. فَأَتَتْ بَابَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عِنْدَهُ بَوَّابِينَ فَقَالَتْ: لَمْ أَعْرِفْكَ. فَقَالَ: «إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الْأُولَى»

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “No Muslim will suffer the death of three sons and go to hell, except to expiate the oath.”(Cf. Qur'an, xix, 71, which says everyone shall go down to it, and that this is a decree from God which must be accomplished. The meaning of the tradition is said to be that such people will go for a very brief time which will be enough to make this decree no longer applicable to them. The decree is treated as equivalent to an oath) (Bukharl and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «لَا يَمُوت لمُسلم ثَلَاث مِنَ الْوَلَدِ فَيَلِجُ النَّارَ إِلَّا تَحِلَّةَ الْقَسَمِ»

He reported God’s messenger as saying to some women of the Ansar, “None of you will lose three children by death and seek a reward from God without entering paradise.” One of them asked, “Or two, messenger of God?” He replied, “Or two.” Muslim transmitted it. Bukharl and Muslim have a version which says, “three who were not old enough to sin.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِنِسْوَةٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ:

لَا يَمُوتُ لِإِحْدَاكُنَّ ثَلَاثَةٌ من الْوَلَد فتحتسبه إِلَّا دخلت الْجنَّة. فَقَالَ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ: أَوِ اثْنَانِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: أَوْ اثْنَانِ

. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهما: «ثَلَاثَة لم يبلغُوا الْحِنْث»

He reported God’s messenger as declaring that God says, “When I take away from my believing servant his favourite friend among the people of this world and he seeks his reward from me, he will have no other reward from me but paradise.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ: مَا لِعَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدِي جَزَاءٌ إِذَا قَبَضْتُ صَفِيَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ احتسبه إِلَّا الْجنَّة

. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abd Sa'id al-Khudri said that God’s messenger cursed the wailing-woman and the woman who listens to her. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ النَّائِحَةَ وَالْمُسْتَمِعَةَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is a fine thing when a believer praises and thanks God if good comes to him, and praises God and shows endurance if smitten by affliction. ' The believer is rewarded for everything, even for the morsel he raises to his wife’s mouth.”(The idea of the tradition is that by virtue of his faith the believer receives a reward for all his actions, none being too insignificant) Baihaqi transmitted it in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>.

وَعَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " عَجَبٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ: إِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ حمد الله وَشَكَرَ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَصَبَرَ فالمؤمن يُؤْجَرُ فِي كُلِّ أَمْرِهِ حَتَّى فِي اللُّقْمَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى فِي امْرَأَتِهِ. رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every believer has two gates, one by which deeds ascend and one by which his provision comes down, and when he dies they weep for him.” That agrees with God's words, “Neither the heaven nor the earth wept for them.”(Qur’an xliv, 29) Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا وَله بَابَانِ: بَاب يصعد مِنْهُ علمه وَبَابٌ يَنْزِلُ مِنْهُ رِزْقُهُ. فَإِذَا مَاتَ بَكَيَا عَلَيْهِ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: (فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْض) رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any member of my people has two children who die before him, God will cause him to enter paradise on their account.” ‘A’isha asked, “Does it apply to a member of your people who has one child who dies before him?” He replied, “It does, you who have been helped by God to ask this.” She then asked, “What about a member of your people who has no children who die before him?” He replied, “I am the one who dies before my people, and they will never suffer any loss to compare with the loss of me.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ فرطان من متي أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ بِهِمَا الْجَنَّةَ ". فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: فَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ فَرَطٌ مَنْ أُمَّتِكَ؟ قَالَ: «وَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ فَرَطٌ يَا مُوَفَّقَةُ» . فَقَالَتْ: فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فَرَطٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ؟ قَالَ: «فَأَنَا فَرَطُ أُمَّتِي لَنْ يُصَابُوا بِمِثْلِي» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported God's messenger as saying:

When a man's child dies God most high asks His angels whether they have taken His servant's child and they reply that they have. He then asks whether they have taken the fruit of his heart (This is said by some to mean either children or grandchildren, and a basis for that meaning is found in Qur’an, ii, 155, where the plural <i>ath-thamarat</i> is interpreted that way), and when they reply that they have, He asks what His servant said. On their replying that he praised God and said, “We belong to God and to Him do we return,” God says, “Build a house in paradise for my servant and call it the house of praise.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي مُوسَى اشعري قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

إِذَا مَاتَ وَلَدُ الْعَبْدِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ: قَبَضْتُمْ وَلَدَ عَبْدِي؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: نَعَمْ. فَيَقُولُ: قَبَضْتُمْ ثَمَرَةَ فُؤَادِهِ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: نَعَمْ. فَيَقُولُ: مَاذَا قَالَ عَبْدِي؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: حَمِدَكَ وَاسْتَرْجَعَ. فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ: ابْنُوا لِعَبْدِي بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَسَمُّوهُ بَيت الْحَمد

. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, “If anyone comforts one who has been afflicted he will have a reward equivalent to his.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition which was known to him as traced back to the Prophet (ﷺ) only among the traditions of ‘Ali b. ‘Asim the transmitter. He added that some transmitted it with this <i>isna</i>d from Muhammad b. Suqa in <i>mauquf</i> form.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «من عَزَّى مُصَابًا فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ مَرْفُوعًا إِلَّا مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ الرَّاوِي وَقَالَ: وَرَوَاهُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ مُحَمَّد بن سوقة بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَاد مَوْقُوفا

Abu Barza reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who comforts a bereaved woman will be clothed with a striped garment in paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ عَزَّى ثَكْلَى كسي بردا فِي الْجَنَّةِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيب

‘Abdallah b. Ja'far told that when the news of Ja'far’s death came the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Prepare food for Ja'far’s family, for they have heard something which takes up their whole attention.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا جَاءَ نَعْيُ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: صانعوا لِآلِ جَعْفَرٍ طَعَامًا فَقَدْ أَتَاهُمْ مَا يَشْغَلُهُمْ) رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba said he heard God’s messenger say, “If people wail for anyone he will be punished for it on the day of resurrection.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يَقُول: «من نِيحَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُعَذَّبُ بِمَا نِيحَ عَلَيْهِ يَوْم الْقِيَامَة»

‘Amra daughter of ‘Abd ar-Rahman said that when ‘A’isha was told that ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar said the dead was punished because of the weeping of the living for him, she heard her say, “God forgive Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ! He has not lied, but he has forgotten, or has made a mistake. What happened was just that God’s messenger came upon some people weeping for a Jewess and said, ‘They are weeping for her, and she is being punished in her grave.’ ” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ وَذُكِرَ لَهَا أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ لَيُعَذَّبُ بِبُكَاءِ الْحَيِّ عَلَيْهِ تَقُولُ: يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكْذِبْ وَلَكِنَّهُ نَسِيَ أَوْ أَخْطَأَ إِنَّمَا مَرَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى يَهُودِيَّةٍ يُبْكَى عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ: «إِنَّهُمْ لَيَبْكُونَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنَّهَا لتعذب فِي قبرها»

'Abdallah b. Abu Mulaika said:

A daughter of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan died in Mecca and we went to attend her funeral. Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbas were present and I was sitting between them. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told ‘Amr b. ‘Uthman who was opposite him to make the people stop weeping, for God's messenger had said that the dead is punished because of his people’s weeping for him. Ibn ‘Abbas then said that ‘Umar used to say something of that nature, and told of an occasion when he had gone from Mecca with ‘Umar and they saw a party of riders under the shade of a gum-acacia tree when they came to al-Baida,. ‘Umar told him to go and see who these riders were, and when he looked he saw that Suhaib was among them, so he told ‘Umar and he asked him to call him. He therefore returned to Suhaib and told him to come over and attach himself to the Commander of the Faithful. Then when ‘Umar was smitten Suhaib entered weeping and saying, “Alas for the brother! Alas for the companion!” ‘Umar asked Suhaib if he was weeping for him when God’s messenger had said that the dead would certainly be punished because of some of the weeping of his family for him. Ibn ‘Abbas said that when ‘Umar died he mentioned that to ‘A’isha and she said, “God have mercy on ‘Umar! I answer by God that God’s messenger never said the dead will certainly be punished because of his family’s weeping for him; what he said was that God will increase the punishment of the infidel because of his family’s weeping for him.” She added, “What the Qur’an says is enough for you: ‘No bearer of a burden will bear another’s burden.’ ” (Qur’an, vi, 164; xvii, 15; xxxv, 18; xxxix, 7) Thereupon Ibn ‘Abbas said, “God is He who has caused laughter and weeping.” (Cf. Qur’an, liii, 43) Ibn Abu Mulaika said that Ibn ‘Umar remained silent. (Bukharl and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ قَالَ: تُوُفِّيَتْ بِنْتٌ لِعُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ بِمَكَّةَ فَجِئْنَا لِنَشْهَدَهَا وَحَضَرَهَا ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَإِنِّي لَجَالِسٌ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بن عمر لعَمْرو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ وَهُوَ مُوَاجِهُهُ: أَلَا تَنْهَى عَنِ الْبُكَاءِ؟ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ لَيُعَذَّبُ بِبُكَاءِ أَهْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ» . فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: قَدْ كَانَ عُمَرُ يَقُولُ بَعْضَ ذَلِكَ. ثُمَّ حَدَّثَ فَقَالَ: صَدَرْتُ مَعَ عُمَرَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَكْبٍ تَحْتَ ظِلِّ سَمُرَةٍ فَقَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَانْظُرْ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّكْبُ؟ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ صُهَيْبٌ. قَالَ: فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ: ادْعُهُ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى صُهَيْبٍ فَقُلْتُ: ارْتَحِلْ فَالْحَقْ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أُصِيبَ عُمَرُ دَخَلَ صُهَيْبٌ يبكي يَقُول: وَا أَخَاهُ واصاحباه. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا صُهَيْبُ أَتَبْكِي عَلَيَّ وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ لَيُعَذَّبُ بِبَعْضِ بُكَاءِ أَهْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ؟» فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: فَلَمَّا مَاتَ عُمَرُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِك لعَائِشَة فَقَالَت: يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ عُمَرَ لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا حَدَّثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَن الْمَيِّتَ لَيُعَذَّبُ بِبُكَاءِ أَهْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ وَلَكِنْ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرَ عَذَابًا بِبُكَاءِ أَهْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ. وَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: حَسْبُكُمُ الْقُرْآنُ: (وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وزر أُخْرَى) قَالَ ابْن عَبَّاس عِنْد ذَلِك: وَالله أضح وأبكي. قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ: فَمَا قَالَ ابْنُ عمر شَيْئا

‘A’isha said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) was told that Ibn Haritha, Ja'far and Ibn Rawaha (They were Zaid b. Haritha, Ja'far Abu Talib, and 'Abdallah b. Rawaha who were killed at Mu’ta in 7 A.H) had been killed, he sat down showing signs of grief, while she was looking at him through the s<i>a’ir</i>, i.e. the slit, of the door. A man came to him and mentioned that Ja'far’s women were weeping, and on being told to tell them to stop he went away. He came a second time saying they had not obeyed him, and he told him to tell them to stop. When he came a third time and said he could make no impression on them, God’s messenger, so ‘A’isha asserted, said, “Throw dust in their mouths.” Thereupon she said, “God humble you! You did not do what God’s messenger ordered you, nor did you stop annoying God’s messenger.” (Bukharl and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: لَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَتْلُ ابْنِ حَارِثَةَ وَجَعْفَرٍ وَابْنِ رَوَاحَةَ جَلَسَ يُعْرَفُ فِيهِ الْحُزْنُ وَأَنَا أَنْظُرُ مِنْ صَائِرِ الْبَابِ تَعْنِي شَقَّ الْبَابِ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ نِسَاءَ جَعْفَرٍ وَذَكَرَ بُكَاءَهُنَّ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَنْهَاهُنَّ فَذَهَبَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ لَمْ يُطِعْنَهُ فَقَالَ: انْهَهُنَّ فَأَتَاهُ الثَّالِثَةَ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ غَلَبْنَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَزَعَمْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «فَاحْثُ فِي أَفْوَاهِهِنَّ التُّرَابَ» . فَقُلْتُ: أَرْغَمَ اللَّهُ أَنْفَكَ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ مَا أَمَرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَمْ تَتْرُكْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ العناء

Umm Salama told that when Abu Salama died she said he had been a stranger in a strange land and that she would weep for him in a manner which would be talked of. She had made preparations for weeping and a woman who meant to assist her was on her way when she was met by God’s messenger who said, “Do you intend to bring the devil into a house from which God has twice driven him out?”(Abu Salama had emigrated both to Abyssinia and to Medina and this may be the reference here; or it may be explained as meaning that the devil was driven out first when he accepted Islam and secondly when he died as a Muslim) Umm Salama therefore refrained from weeping and did not weep. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ: لَمَّا مَاتَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قُلْتُ غَرِيبٌ وَفِي أَرْضِ غُرْبَةٍ لَأَبْكِيَنَّهُ بُكَاءً يُتَحَدَّثُ عَنْهُ فَكُنْتُ قَدْ تَهَيَّأْتُ لِلْبُكَاءِ عَلَيْهِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُسْعِدَنِي فَاسْتَقْبَلَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «أَتُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تُدْخُلِي الشَّيْطَانَ بَيْتًا أَخْرَجَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ؟» مَرَّتَيْنِ وَكَفَفْتُ عَنِ الْبُكَاءِ فَلَمْ أبك. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said that when ‘Abdallah b. Rawaha fainted his sister ‘Amra began to weep and shout, “Alas for the mountain! (The word which basically means a mountain is also used for a chief. In the next tradition from Abu Musa two expressions are used, one being the same as here and the other using a normal word for a chief. I have therefore kept the flavour of the original by retaining the word mountain) Alas for such and such! Alas for such and such !” eulogising him. When he came round he said, “I was asked about everything you said whether I am like that.” A version has the addition that when he died she did not weep for him. Bukhari tranmitted it.

وَعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: أُغْمِيَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَوَاحَةَ فَجَعَلَتْ أُخْتُهُ عَمْرَةُ تبْكي: واجبلاه واكذا واكذا تُعَدِّدُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ حِينَ أَفَاقَ: مَا قُلْتِ شَيْئًا إِلَّا قِيلَ لِي: أَنْتَ كَذَلِكَ؟ زَادَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ لَمْ تَبْكِ عَلَيْهِ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Musa said he heard God’s messenger say, “If anyone dies and the mourner gets up and says, ‘Alas for the mountain! Alas for the chief!’ and such like, God will put two angels in charge of him who will beat him on the breast and ask him whether he was like that.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib hasan</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:

مَا من ميت يَمُوت فَيقوم باكيهم فيقولك: واجبلاه واسيداه وَنَحْوَ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَلَكَيْنِ يَلْهَزَانِهِ وَيَقُولَانِ: أَهَكَذَا كُنْتَ؟

. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ حَسَنٌ