18/9. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 938c — Mourning Rules for a Widow
The Obligation to mourn during the 'Iddah following the death of one's husband, but it is forbidden to mourn for more than three days in other cases
Hadith About Widow Mourning Rules
Sahih Muslim : 938c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 938c
وَحَدَّثَنَا حَسَنُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُحِدُّ امْرَأَةٌ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا وَلاَ تَلْبَسُ ثَوْبًا مَصْبُوغًا إِلاَّ ثَوْبَ عَصْبٍ وَلاَ تَكْتَحِلُ وَلاَ تَمَسُّ طِيبًا إِلاَّ إِذَا طَهُرَتْ نُبْذَةً مِنْ قُسْطٍ أَوْ أَظْفَارٍ " .
Umm `Atiyya (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had said: A woman must not observe mourning for one who had died for more than three (days) except for four months and ten days in the case of her husband. And she must not wear a dyed garment except one of the types made of dyed yarn, or apply collyrium, or touch perfume except a little perfume or incense, when she has been purified after her courses.
[1] A Yemeni Burd woven from a type of yarn, some of whose strands are dyed. [2] Two types of incense.Reference : Sahih Muslim 938cIn-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 85USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3550
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 938c
This hadith about widow mourning rules gives more detail than the shorter reports. Umm Atiyya reports that Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said a woman must not mourn one who died for more than three days, except for her husband, in which case the period is four months and ten days. The text also states that during this period she must not wear a dyed garment except a type made of dyed yarn, apply collyrium, or touch perfume. It then mentions a small allowance of perfume or incense when she has been purified after her courses. The main teaching is outward restraint during the widow’s period, while also noting the specific allowance mentioned in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mourning for someone other than a husband is limited to three days.
- A widow’s mourning period is four months and ten days.
- The hadith mentions avoiding dyed garments, collyrium, and perfume.
- A small allowance is mentioned after purification from courses.
