The Ruling on Offering Condolences and Accepting Them in the Cemetery

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks and says: What is the ruling on offering condolences and accepting them in a cemetery, if this has become customary among the people of the town?

Answer:
Offering condolences is prescribed, and it means consoling the bereaved. That is, one says to him, "May Allah improve your consolation, may Allah mend your loss, and may Allah forgive your deceased," if the deceased was a Muslim. In that case, offering condolences is recommended. As for the place of condolences, there is no specific place designated for it; it is according to what is convenient. If it is convenient in the cemetery, or in the street, or in the shop, or in the mosque, or in the house, no specific place is designated for condolences. Rather, it is according to what is convenient for the Muslim to perform the Sunnah, console his brother, and mend his loss. Yes. And even if he speaks to him by telephone, or sends him a message, or writes him a message if he is far away, then this is sufficient, and praise be to Allah. Yes.