Gathering for Condolences
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Fatwa No. ( 14705 )
Q: We previously wrote to you two years ago regarding the establishment of a building solely for condolences, without the recitation of the Qur'an, in the southern part of Jeddah , because no such facility exists there. As for the northern part, Shaykh Muhammad Awad ibn Laden (may Allah have mercy on him and all of them) established a similar one two years ago. The reason for establishing this is that many people live in very modest apartments with no more than two or three rooms. When a death occurs among these people, the rooms are not large enough to accommodate the condolence visitors from their relatives and neighbors due to their small size. I also point out here that the condolence visitors are of both genders, in addition to the family of the deceased. Therefore, we thought of establishing this building for this purpose, intending to seek the Face of Allah. We have submitted this to your esteemed position for your consideration and guidance on what you see fit.
A : Every act intended as worship of Allah and seeking reward from Allah must be established from Allah in His Noble Book, or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), by his saying, doing, or approval. Since condolence is intended to seek reward from Allah by consoling the family of the deceased and alleviating their grief by making du'a for them, the method of condolence
to the family of the deceased was established by the Sunnah of the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him), and his Companions and his Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them all) acted upon it, as in . It was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim . Any prescribed du'a made for them is permissible, such as: (May Allah make your condolence good, reward you for your loss, and replace it with something better for you). This is based on what Umm Salama narrated, saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: It was narrated by Muslim . One may offer condolences to the guardian of the deceased, whether in his home, on the street, in the market, or at work. It is not reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or from his noble Companions, or his Rightly Guided Caliphs, or any of the Imams, that he sat specifically for condolences, or designated a day, time, or place for condolences, or gathered people for condolences. If gathering for condolences had brought one closer to Allah, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would have made it clear. His uncle Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib was killed, and Ja'far ibn Abi Talib was killed, and his son (peace and blessings be upon him) Ibrahim passed away, and his daughter Zaynab passed away, and many of his best Companions passed away during his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, and he was deeply loved in the hearts of the Muslims, and his Companions loved him most. If gathering for condolences
had been prescribed, they would have done it. Likewise, Abu Bakr and 'Umar and 'Uthman and 'Ali passed away, and the Mothers of the Believers and the rest of the Companions passed away, and it is not known that anyone held condolences for them or gathered for that purpose. This indicates that gathering for condolences and preparing food or drink for the attendees is a blameworthy religious innovation with no basis in the religion. In fact, it must be denounced, and one who assists in holding it commits a sin. When this practice occurred in later generations, the noble Companion Jarir ibn 'Abd Allah al-Bajali said: (We, meaning the Companions, considered gathering at the home of the deceased and preparing food to be part of wailing). It was narrated by Imam Ahmad with a good chain. This innovation is further emphasized by designating a specific place or time for condolences, or bringing in any other things such as lights, reciters, food, or drink at the home of the deceased. Therefore, we see the prohibition of establishing a house for condolences, whether for a fee or without a fee. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: We previously wrote to you two years ago regarding the establishment of a building solely for condolences, without the recitation of the Qur'an, in the southern part of Jeddah , because no such facility exists there. As for the northern part, Shaykh Muhammad Awad ibn Laden (may Allah have mercy on him and all of them) established a similar one two years ago. The reason for establishing this is that many people live in very modest apartments with no more than two or three rooms. When a death occurs among these people, the rooms are not large enough to accommodate the condolence visitors from their relatives and neighbors due to their small size. I also point out here that the condolence visitors are of both genders, in addition to the family of the deceased. Therefore, we thought of establishing this building for this purpose, intending to seek the Face of Allah. We have submitted this to your esteemed position for your consideration and guidance on what you see fit.
A : Every act intended as worship of Allah and seeking reward from Allah must be established from Allah in His Noble Book, or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), by his saying, doing, or approval. Since condolence is intended to seek reward from Allah by consoling the family of the deceased and alleviating their grief by making du'a for them, the method of condolence
to the family of the deceased was established by the Sunnah of the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him), and his Companions and his Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them all) acted upon it, as in
No servant is struck by a calamity and says: "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it with something better for me," except that Allah rewards him for his calamity and replaces it with something better for him. She said: So when Abu Salama passed away, I said what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had commanded me to say, and Allah replaced him for me with something better: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
بقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم في تعزية إحدى بناته بعد موت صبيها: إن لله تعالى ما أخذ وله ما أعطى، وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى، وأمرها بالصبر والاحتسابThere is no servant who is struck by a calamity and says: "Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace for me something better than it," but that Allah will reward him in his calamity and replace for him something better than it. She said: So when Abu Salama passed away, I said what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had ordered me to say, and Allah replaced for me something better than him, namely the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
ما من عبد تصيبه مصيبة فيقول: إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون، اللهم أجرني في مصيبتي واخلف لي خيرًا منها إلا آجره الله في مصيبته وأخلف له خيرًا منها قالت: فلما توفي أبو سلمة قلت كما أمرني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأخلف الله لي خيرًا منه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلمhad been prescribed, they would have done it. Likewise, Abu Bakr and 'Umar and 'Uthman and 'Ali passed away, and the Mothers of the Believers and the rest of the Companions passed away, and it is not known that anyone held condolences for them or gathered for that purpose. This indicates that gathering for condolences and preparing food or drink for the attendees is a blameworthy religious innovation with no basis in the religion. In fact, it must be denounced, and one who assists in holding it commits a sin. When this practice occurred in later generations, the noble Companion Jarir ibn 'Abd Allah al-Bajali said: (We, meaning the Companions, considered gathering at the home of the deceased and preparing food to be part of wailing). It was narrated by Imam Ahmad with a good chain. This innovation is further emphasized by designating a specific place or time for condolences, or bringing in any other things such as lights, reciters, food, or drink at the home of the deceased. Therefore, we see the prohibition of establishing a house for condolences, whether for a fee or without a fee. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.