What is the explanation of the last part of the Hadith? إلا آل فلان
عن أم عطية، قالت: لما نزلت هذه الآية: يبايعنك على أن لا يشركن بالله شيئا ولا يعصينك في معروف قالت: كان منه النياحة، قالت: فقلت: يا رسول الله، إلا آل فلان، فإنهم كانوا أسعدوني في الجاهلية، فلا بد لي من أن أسعدهم، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إلا آل فلان
Answer
Translation
Sayyidah Ummu ‘Atiyyah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, when the Verse ‘When believing women come to you giving their pledge that they will not associate partners with Allah…. and will not disobey you in good…’ (Surah Mumtahinah, Verse: 12), she [Ummu ‘Atiyyah radiyallahu ‘anha] said: In [this pledge] wailing for the deceased was also prohibited. I said: O Messenger of Allah! except for the members of such a tribe who helped me (in wailing) during Pre-Islamic days, there is no alternative for me, but that I should assist them [in wailing]. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Except for this tribe.’
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 937)
Explanation
The commentators have offered several explanations. ‘Allamah Shabbir Ahmad ‘Uthmani (rahimahullah) writes, “The best explanation according to me is that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) realised that Ummu ‘Atiyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha) had to repay the favour and wail for the family of a certain tribe. [As other narrations clearly explain], Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) allowed her to wail for one final time, and then come back to pledge allegiance since this was the lesser of the two evils and so that when she does come back to pledge allegiance her heart is completely free of all Pre-Islamic practices and the pledge of allegiance will expiate the sin of wailing.”
(Fathul Mulhim, Hadith: 2135. Also see: Sahih Muslim with Al Minhaj, Hadith: 2162 and Fathul Bari, Hadith: 4892)
Also see here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,
Note: The rule for everyone now is that this is impermissible, without exception.