Back to search
The question

Is it permissible to say "ah, ah" or "yai, yai" to express pain, and what is incumbent upon someone who says "yai, yai" when they fall?

Share this answer

Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

A patient's utterance of "Ah" or similar expressions to convey pain is permissible without dislike, provided it doesn't involve excessive resentment or despair. This is because the inability to endure excessive pain is a natural human inclination. Such expressions of pain have been reported from Companions like Abu Bakr and Aisha, and even from Prophet Ayyub (Job), peace be upon him. Some scholars disliked moaning and complaining by way of reporting, but others, like Imam Al-Nawawi and Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, refuted this, considering only that which is expressly prohibited to be disliked. The Prophet's (peace be upon him) statement to Aisha, "Nay, rather it is I, O Aisha, my head!" could be interpreted as consolation or simply an acknowledgment of pain without complaint. In summary, moaning is permissible, but refraining from it and engaging in remembrance of Allah is more virtuous. As for the word "Yai" when falling or colliding, it usually (unintentionally) indicates a form of panic, so no legal ruling applies to it, or it is intended to draw attention, in which case there is no harm in it.

Summary from Ftawy's records · added here

Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.

Read the full answer on Ftawy
Where this answer came from
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
48023
Added here
. This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
Text
Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full ruling
Read the full answer on Ftawy