Mourning Periods for Women in Islam: Guidelines for Family Members After a Death

Understanding Mourning in Islam: Duration and Practices for Women

Question: If a woman passes away in a household, how long should her husband, children, and relatives mourn her?

Answer: The first thing to note is that mourning is specifically related to women; there is no mourning period for men. Therefore, if someone in the household passes away, the men in the house will not observe mourning. However, a woman can mourn for three days for the death of her father, mother, brother, son, daughter, sister, or any close relative. Mourning means refraining from adornments such as perfume, kohl, etc. Crying, wailing, and tearing clothes are prohibited. As a form of mourning, a woman will only refrain from adornments. If a woman’s husband passes away, she must observe mourning for four months and ten days. Refer to the following hadith:

Umm Atiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

"No woman should mourn for any deceased person for more than three days, except for her husband, for whom she should mourn for four months and ten days. She should not wear dyed clothes, except for a garment of 'Asb (a type of Yemeni cloth), nor should she apply kohl, nor touch perfume, except when she is purified (after her menstrual period), in which case she may use a little Qust or Azfar (types of incense)." (Sahih Muslim: 938)

It is commonly believed that if someone dies in a household, the family members should mourn for three days. However, as I have explained in light of the hadith, mourning is only for women. Therefore, this misconception in society should be corrected.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (May Allah protect him)

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫