68/48. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5341 — Widow Mourning Rules
Qust (incense) may be used by a mourning after being cleaned from her menses.
Hadith About Widow Mourning Rules and Iddah
Sahih Bukhari : 5341
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5341
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ كُنَّا نُنْهَى أَنْ نُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ، إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا، وَلاَ نَكْتَحِلَ، وَلاَ نَطَّيَّبَ، وَلاَ نَلْبَسَ ثَوْبًا مَصْبُوغًا، إِلاَّ ثَوْبَ عَصْبٍ، وَقَدْ رُخِّصَ لَنَا عِنْدَ الطُّهْرِ إِذَا اغْتَسَلَتْ إِحْدَانَا مِنْ مَحِيضِهَا فِي نُبْذَةٍ مِنْ كُسْتِ أَظْفَارٍ، وَكُنَّا نُنْهَى عَنِ اتِّبَاعِ الْجَنَائِزِ.
Umm 'Atiyyah Narrated from:
We were forbidden to mourn for more than three days for a dead person, except for a husband, for whom a wife should mourn for four months and ten days (while in the mourning period) we were not allowed to put kohl in our eyes, nor perfume our-selves, nor wear dyed clothes, except a garment of 'Asb (special clothes made in Yemen). But it was permissible for us that when one of us became clean from her menses and took a bath, she could use a piece of a certain kind of incense. And it was forbidden for us to follow funeral processions.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5341In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 86USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 254
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5341
This hadith explains widow mourning rules in direct and practical words. Umm 'Atiyya says that women were not to mourn for a dead person beyond three days, except for a husband, where the period is four months and ten days. During that mourning period, the narration mentions avoiding kohl, perfume, and dyed clothing, except for a garment of 'Asb. It also mentions a small permission after becoming clean from menses, using a certain kind of incense, and says they were forbidden from following funeral processions. The teaching is focused and specific. It shows that Islamic mourning has limits, exceptions, and simple details for personal conduct during widow iddah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mourning for a husband is stated as four months and ten days.
- The hadith mentions avoiding kohl, perfume, and dyed clothing during that period.
- A limited use of incense after becoming clean from menses is allowed in the text.
- The narration also states that women were forbidden from following funeral processions.
