He is not one of us who slaps the cheeks, splits the collars, and calls out with the calls of Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance)

Arabic text

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَطَمَ الخُدُودَ، وَشَقَّ الجُيُوبَ، وَدَعَا بِدَعْوَى الجَاهِلِيَّةِ».

Translation

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is not one of us who slaps the cheeks, splits the collars, and calls out with the calls of Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance)."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade and warned against some of the practices of the people of Jāhliyyah, saying: He is not one of us: First: The one who slaps the cheeks, and the cheek is mentioned in particular because it is the part usually slapped; otherwise, slapping the rest of the face is included in the prohibition. Second: The one who splits the opened part of the garment through which the head is entered due to severe discontentment. Third: The one who calls out with the calls of the people of Jāhiliyyah, like supplicating for ruin and destruction, wailing, lamenting, etc.

Benefits

• The threat in the Hadīth denotes that such acts are from the major sins.
• It is obligatory to adopt patience in dealing with calamities. It is prohibited to express discontent about the painful experiences predestined by Allah through wailing, lamenting, shaving, tearing clothes, etc.
• It is prohibited to imitate the practices of Jāhiliyyah that have not been approved by the Legislator.
• There is nothing wrong with sadness and crying, as they do not contradict patience with Allah's predestination; rather, they are a mercy that Allah has placed in the hearts of relatives and loved ones.
• A Muslim should be content with Allah's predestination, and if he does not feel content, then patience is obligatory upon him.

Topics

• The Creed
• Names and Rulings
• Issues of Pre-Islamic Era