Women gathering to wail over the dead

A: Mourning accompanied by Niyahah (loud wailing over the dead person always associated with demonstrating his great characteristics) or Nadb (lamentation of the dead person always associated with mentioning his great qualities) is prohibited. (Part No. 9; Page No. 162) The prohibition is emphasized in the Hadith narrated by Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the female weeper (i.e., the professional mourner) and the woman who listens to her.” Narrated by Abu Dawud. It is also narrated on the authority of Um `Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: At the time of giving the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) one of the conditions was that we would not make Niyahah. This Hadith is agreed upon by Al-Bukhari And Muslim. The above two Hadiths indicate the prohibition of Niyahah as well as listening to those who make it. When the Prophet curses something, it means that it is prohibited. It is related in the two books of Sahih (authentic books of Hadith compiled by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ' “He is not of us: the one who strikes the cheeks, rends the garments and wails in the manner of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic Days of Ignorance).” It is also narrated in these two books on the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: I have no concern with one who makes Halq or Salq or Kharq. Halq means shaving one's hair upon (Part No. 9; Page No. 163) occurrence of a calamity. Salq means crying in a loud voice upon the occurrence of a calamity. Kharq or Shaqq means renting apart one's clothing upon the occurrence of a calamity.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.