If there has been a death in the family, do we celebrate Eid?

I would like to know that if a member of your family has died do you not celebrate Eid, I know that it is compulsary to read eid namaaz but everything after the eid namaaz., also its only been 10 days since the death I was told if it was within the 40days after the death then you are not meant to celebrate it ?

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

To Allah we belong and to Allah we return. May Allah give you patience. Ameen.

Eid is a joyous occasion and it is understandable that you feel grief over the death of a relative ten days prior.

However, the customary practice of mourning for forty days and not indulging in any joyous occasion before that is baseless.

Three days is an adequate timeframe to receive condolences and express sadness. After three days one should resume normal activities.1

This does not mean that one will not remember one’s relative or feel sad over the loss for more than three days, but it’s a return to a normal schedule that helps in coping with the loss.

An exception to this is the widow whose husband has passed away. Her mourning period is 4 months and 10 days (and its corresponding nights) if she is not pregnant.2 3

If the widow is pregnant, then her mourning period will be until she gives birth.4

And Allāh knows best.

Ml. Sohail Bengali
Chicago, IL (USA)

Concurred by:

Muftī Abrar Mirza
Chicago, IL (USA)

Under the Supervision of Muftī Ebrahim Desai (South Africa)

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