6/52. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1584 — Mourning Without Jahiliyyah
What was narrated concerning the prohibition of striking one’s cheeks and tearing one’s garment
Hadith About Mourning Without Jahiliyyah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1584
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1584
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ قَالاَ: حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ شَقَّ الْجُيُوبَ وَضَرَبَ الْخُدُودَ وَدَعَا بِدَعْوَى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “He is not one of us who tears his garments, strikes his cheeks, and cries with the cry of the Days of Ignorance.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1584In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 152English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1584
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1584
This hadith about mourning without Jahiliyyah gives three examples of wrong behavior at the time of grief: tearing garments, striking cheeks, and crying with the cry of the Days of Ignorance. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the person who does this is not one of us. The wording is strong because these actions show uncontrolled grief and a return to ignorant customs. The hadith does not reject sadness itself. It rejects actions and words that go beyond proper Islamic mourning. The main lesson is that a Muslim can feel pain, but should not express it through forbidden acts. Faith should guide the tongue, hands, and behavior during calamity.
What we learn from this hadith
- Tearing garments in grief is condemned in this hadith.
- Striking the cheeks is not the way of Islamic mourning.
- Crying with the cries of Jahiliyyah is strongly warned against.
- A Muslim’s grief should be controlled by faith and obedience.
