after the advent of Islam, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم fixed the mourning period to three days upon the death of other relatives except the husband^[1], whereas the wife will observe the period of ‘Iddat’ at the death of her husband for four months and ten days. However, it is permissible for a woman to observe mourning for three days upon the death of any of her close relatives; more than this is not permitted. (Rad-dul-Muhtar, vol. 5, pp. 223)

When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ended this practice of pre-Islamic era of ignorance, blessed Sahabiyyat رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُـنَّ started acting upon the blessed saying of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and this wrong tradition came to an end.

When the brother of Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا (daughter of Jahsh) passed away, she got the fragrance brought to her on the fourth day and applied and said: I did not need the fragrance, but I heard the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saying on the blessed pulpit, ‘It is not permissible for any Muslim woman to observe mourning for more than three days except for her husband that is four months and ten days.’

(Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 2, pp. 422, Hadees 2299)

Similarly, when the father (Sayyiduna Abu Sufyan رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ) of Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Habibah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا passed away, she رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا applied fragrance to her cheeks and said, ‘I did not need it, I did it only in obedience to the blessed command of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’

(Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 2, pp. 422, Hadees 2299)

Keeping in mortuary (cold storage)

On someone’s death, one of the practice of non-Shar’i acts that is becoming common is to wait for the sons etc., of the deceased who are out of the city or country by thinking that how the funeral will be held if he does not attend it. Though, at that time, other sons, daughters, sisters and brothers are all around the deceased. The son, who is coming from other city or country, gets very late due to getting no leaves or delay of transport etc. Under these