1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

15 Questions

I have been to many different communities during Muharram, and they differ in their mourning periods. Is there any specific guideline in our Hadith for mourning after Ashura or is any continued mourning after then purely cultural practice?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Muharram and Safar are the two months during which we mourn the tragedies of Karbala and avoid celebrations. Different countries have their own way of observing the mourning but all Shia Muslims express their grief on the tragedies of Ahlul Bayt (AS) by avoiding celebrations during Muharram and Safar.

Wassalam.
Is it appropriate to mourn or conduct Majlis, recite Noha, and perform Matam during weddings and Eid, considering that some Shia believe that Eid coincides with the 10th day of Imam Ali's martyrdom?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

Unfortunately, this is a clear misguided view and practice. In the dua we recite on Eid al-Fitr day, it says it is a day in which Allah ta'ala made it as Eid for Muslims. It is definitely not appropriate to change a happy celebration occasion to mourning and ma'tam. There is a time for each of them. 

As the hadith says, "Our Shi'ah..... they grieve when we grieve, and are happy when we are happy." 

Much more can be said about this, and the most important thing is one follows not what a small fringe group does, but what majority of Shi'ah do, especially our mainstream esteemed 'Ulama.

And Allah knows best
What is the importance of observing a 40-day mourning period for the deceased?
Amina Inloes

A more detailed response is:

In Sunni Islam, mourning is often said to be for 3 days only, based on Sunni hadith (for instance, Sahih Bukhari). 

In Shi'i Islam, it is not considered forbidden to mourn for more than 3 days, and people may vary in how much time they personally need to mourn. However, it is recommended to send food to the homes of the deceased for 3 days. 

Mourning for 40 days is done in several religious traditions and probably has some general human significance, but is not required. 
What is the importance of observing a 40-day mourning period for the deceased?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

In the sunnah of Islam, mourning of a deceased is for three days only. The only exclusive exemption is Imam Husain (a.s.), and the important event of 'Arbaeen. 

Yes, there are cultural practices, for Fatiha ceremonies, like the 7th day, 40th day, and one year passing of the deceased, but these are just customary traditions. 

And Allah knows best.