Punishment for Wailing Over the Dead: A Balanced View from Qur’an and Sunnah

❖ Punishment Due to Wailing Over the Deceased: A Comprehensive Sharʿī Explanation ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Janāʾiz, p. 548

❖ Question:​

It is stated that the deceased is punished in the grave due to the loud wailing and lamentation (نوحہ، چیخ و پکار) of their living relatives. This was the understanding of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما), and is supported by Marfūʿ aḥādīth from the Prophet ﷺ recorded in:

• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
• Sunan an-Nasāʾī
• Muwaṭṭāʾ Imām Mālik

However, ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) is reported to have disagreed and narrated that the Prophet ﷺ passed by the grave of a Jewish woman whose relatives were wailing over her and said:


"They are crying above, and she is being punished below."


So the questions are:
① Which of the two positions is correct?
② If both are valid, why did ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) express disagreement?
③ Kindly clarify this issue with full evidence so it may reach a wider audience.

❖ Response:​

Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!

➊ Affirmation of the Punishment Due to Wailing​

It is firmly established from multiple companions that the deceased is punished due to the loud weeping and lamenting of their relatives if they were pleased with it or did not forbid it during their lifetime.


The following Companions (ṣaḥābah) have transmitted narrations on this topic:


✔ ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1286–1288; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 927–929)


✔ ʿImrān ibn Ḥuṣayn
(Sunan an-Nasāʾī 4/15, Ḥadīth: 185; Ibn Ḥibbān — Ṣaḥīḥ, Ḥadīth: 742)


✔ al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 129; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 933)


✔ Samurah ibn Jundub
(al-Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr 7/216, Ḥadīth: 6896)


✔ Other Companions also narrated similar reports.

➋ Status of These Aḥādīth​

The ḥadīth concerning punishment of the deceased due to wailing is of the level of mutawātir (mass-transmitted):

• Qaṭf al-Azhār al-Mutanāthirah fī al-Akhbār al-Mutawātirah by al-Suyūṭī (Ḥadīth No. 44)
• Naẓm al-Mutanāthir min al-Ḥadīth al-Mutawātir by al-Kattānī (Ḥadīth No. 106)

This confirms the authenticity and strength of these narrations.

➌ Reconciling Between ʿĀʾishah and the Other Companions​

There is no real contradiction between the statement of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) and the reports of ʿUmar and other Companions.


Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) explains this clearly:


**“The statement of the Prophet ﷺ, ‘The deceased is punished for the wailing of his family’, applies if wailing was part of his custom (i.e., he approved or did not prohibit it).
But if he had rejected it and forbade it, then it is as ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
‘No bearer of burden will bear the burden of another.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janāʾiz, Bāb 32, pre-Ḥadīth 1284)

➍ Summary of the Explanation​

• If the deceased approved of wailing, or did not prohibit it during life, then he bears responsibility, and may be punished for the wailing after death.
• If the deceased opposed such acts and was not responsible for his relatives’ conduct, then he will not be punished, in accordance with the Qur’ānic principle:

﴿وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى﴾
“No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.” (al-Anʿām: 164)


This reconciles both positions and removes any perceived contradiction.

Conclusion: The Correct View​

The correct and balanced view, which brings together all texts, is:

• Wailing is a sinful act, and if the deceased encouraged or allowed it, they may be punished.
• If the deceased forbade it and was not responsible, they will not bear any sin for others' actions.

الحديث: 1 (شہادت، جولائی 2004ء)
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