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Fatwa CenterRuling on wailing over the deceased
Question
Assalaam Aleikum. I have seen with my own eyes that some women scream at the top of their voice at a funeral. What is the effect of this on the soul?Thank you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The Prophet said: “The deceased is tortured due to the wailing of his family over him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
The scholars 
interpreted this Prophetic narration to mean that this torture applies to whoever advises his family to do this for him, or that he knows that his family would do so and did not request them not to do it. However, the person who does not request them or approve of them doing so is not tortured by the wailing of his family, as Allaah Says (what means): {And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.}[Quran 35:18].
The following two matters should be mentioned:
1- Wailing over the dead is forbidden as the Prophet said: “If a hired mourner (a woman who is hired to wail during funerals) does not repent before she dies, she will be raised on the Day of Judgement wearing a garment of tar and an armour of blistering puss.” [Muslim]. Of course, this applies to the mourning which we know, but the mere weeping which is not accompanied with an act or statement that is forbidden, is permissible. The Prophet said: ''Allaah does not punish for the weeping of the eye or the sadness of the heart, but He punishes for this –pointing to his tongue –or that this [what the tongue utters] is forbidden.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
2- Please refer to Fatwa 84890 on the ruling of women following a funeral.
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