He (Ibn 'Umar) missed (the point). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had (in fact) said: He (the dead) is punished for his faults or for his sins, and the members of his family are wailing for him now. (This misunderstanding of Ibn 'Umar is similar to his saying: ) The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood by the well in which were lying the dead bodies of those polytheists who had been killed on the Day of Badr, and he said to them what he had to say, i. e.: They hear what I say. But he (Ibn 'Umar) misunderstood. The Prophet (ﷺ) had only said: They (the dead) understand that what I used to say to them was truth. She then recited:" Certainly, thou canst not make the dead hear the call" (xxvii. 80), nor can you make those hear who are in the graves, nor can you inform them when they have taken their seats in Hell.
Narrated by Hisham narrated on the authority of his father that it was mentioned to 'A'isha that Ibn 'Umar had narrated as marfu' hadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that the dead would be punished in the grave because of the lamentation of his family for him. Upon this she said:
Context
This hadith addresses the misconception regarding the punishment of the deceased in the grave due to the lamentation of their family. 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) clarifies that the deceased is punished for their own sins, not the grief expressed by their loved ones, highlighting the importance of understanding the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) accurately.
Modern Application
In times of grief, this hadith serves as a reminder that mourning is a natural human response. It encourages individuals to express their feelings while also understanding the spiritual implications of their actions, fostering a balanced approach to grief and remembrance.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Punishment and Funeral Rites because it discusses the consequences faced by the deceased and clarifies misconceptions surrounding mourning practices as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
This hadith is #2041 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Prayer - Funerals. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Hisham narrated on the authority of his father that it was mentioned to 'A'isha that Ibn 'Umar had narrated as marfu' hadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that the dead would be punished in the grave because of the lamentation of his family for him. Upon this she said:.
