What Does Excess in Mourning Mean, and Is It a Personal Matter?

If mourning prevents us from fulfilling our religious duties, or leads us to neglect strongly recommended acts of worship and the necessities of daily life, it may be considered excessive. The same is true when mourning fills our time so completely that it distracts us from, or weakens our commitment to, the true teachings of the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt; or when we lose sight of its purpose and let the means obstruct the end.

Mourning should strengthen our good works, knowledge, noble character, spiritual journey, fulfilment of our personal, social and religious duties, and our scholarly and practical efforts. Otherwise, we will have strayed from the straight path of mourning.

Imam al-Mahdi, peace be upon him, is our guide and leader in mourning. Devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt is enjoined by God Almighty. No one is dearer to us than the Ahl al-Bayt; they take precedence over us and over those dearest to us. We must say that their concerns and sufferings take precedence over our own affairs—let alone when their sufferings are personal in nature.

الشورى : 23 ذلک الذی یبشر الله عباده الذین آمنوا و عملوا الصالحات قل لا أسئلکم علیه أجرا إلا الموده فی القربى‏ و من یقترف حسنه نزد له فیها حسنا إن الله غفور شکور

This is the good news that God gives to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, “I ask of you no reward for this message, except love for my near kin. And whoever does a good deed, We shall increase its goodness for him. Surely God is All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative.”

الأحزاب : 6 النبی أولى‏ بالمؤمنین من أنفسهم و ...

The Prophet has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves, and …

المائده : 55 إنما ولیکم الله و رسوله و الذین آمنوا الذین یقیمون الصلاه و یؤتون الزکاه و هم راکعون

Your guardian is none other than God, His Messenger, and those who believe: those who establish prayer and give alms while bowing.