The Ruling on Gathering for Condolences and Preparing Food for the Family of the Deceased

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, it is well known that preparing food for the family of the deceased is a form of charity, but in this time, people find it easy to send food to the family of the deceased for three days or more, until the evening time ends, in order to keep the family occupied with those who come to them. Does this excuse them from the gathering, or, may Allah preserve you, is this not permissible? And does it not mix with the rights of the deceased? So, did you leave those who come from the relatives and say to them, "This man is from the charity"?

Answer:
If the relatives and people sit for specific days and it is announced in the newspaper that the place of condolence is at such and such a location, they will come. If you do not arrange this arrangement, they will not come. And if they do not come, there is no food and nothing happens. You should leave these arrangements and these specified days.
If someone comes to you to offer condolences, accept their condolences in the market, in the house, or in the mosque, without a gathering. If people would leave this arrangement, these afflictions and these foods that are made would be removed, and the root that caused this would be left, which is the arrangement, specifying days, specifying a location and place for the gathering and for condolences. This is what Allah has not sent down as the truth. This is what must be mentioned. If it is left, then what results from it is left. Yes.