The Ruling on Crying for the Deceased

Question:
The sister’s mother says: My sister’s daughter passed away at the age of thirteen, and she was her only child. Her mother says she has been crying over her for three years. As for crying over this girl, O Shaykh, is there any harm for my sister?

Answer:
Crying is not a sin for which one is held accountable, because it is an act of mercy, and because a person is unable to prevent it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wept when his son Ibrahim died, saying . So the matter of crying is something a person cannot prevent, and it is mercy, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . What is forbidden is bad speech, such as wailing over the deceased, mentioning the virtues of the deceased, or forbidden actions like slapping the cheeks, tearing the clothes, and invoking the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. This is what is forbidden. Yes, but a person should exercise patience, even to the extent of restraining his tears, and he should exercise patience and be consoled by the permission of Allah. Yes.