6/53. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1591 — Limits of Weeping
What was narrated concerning weeping for the deceased
Limits of Weeping in Mourning
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1591
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1591
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مَرَّ بِنِسَاءِ عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ يَبْكِينَ هَلْكَاهُنَّ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَكِنَّ حَمْزَةَ لاَ بَوَاكِيَ لَهُ " . فَجَاءَ نِسَاءُ الأَنْصَارِ يَبْكِينَ حَمْزَةَ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ " وَيْحَهُنَّ مَا انْقَلَبْنَ بَعْدُ؟ مُرُوهُنَّ فَلْيَنْقَلِبْنَ وَلاَ يَبْكِينَ عَلَى هَالِكٍ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by some women of ‘Abdul-Ashhal who were weeping for their slain on the Day of Uhud. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “But there is no one to weep for Hamzah.” So the women of Ansar started to weep for Hamzah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) woke up and said, ‘Woe to them, have they not gone home yet? Tell them to go home and not to weep for anyone who dies after this day.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1591In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 159English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1591
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1591
This hadith about the limits of weeping in mourning mentions women of Abdul-Ashhal weeping for their slain on the Day of Uhud. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Hamzah had no one to weep for him, so the women of the Ansar began weeping for Hamzah. Later, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم woke up and asked why they had not gone home yet. He then instructed that they should go home and not weep for anyone who dies after that day. The text shows that grief happened, but it also shows a limit being placed on continuing it. The hadith teaches that mourning should not become an ongoing public practice beyond what is proper.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith mentions weeping after loss, but also places limits on it.
- The women were instructed to return home.
- Mourning should not become an extended public display.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided people from grief toward restraint.
