Making the payment of money to the family of the deceased a permanent practice by everyone who comes to offer condolences
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Fatwa No. ( 18643 )
Q: We are some of the residents of Rajal 'Alam in the southern region. Our fathers and grandfathers lived relying on Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and then on what their farms produced in terms of grains, and on the available meat, milk, and ghee. This community was a living example embodying the social solidarity that our great Islamic religion guided us to. One form of this solidarity among the members of this community was that if a person from a poor family died, they might not have food available because they were preoccupied with their calamity, neglecting the pursuit of sustenance and arranging the means of livelihood. This led them to adopt a specific approach in solidarity with the family of the deceased. This approach was: for every person who came to offer condolences to bring a measure of grain, whether it was wheat, corn, or barley, each according to his ability, without burdening anyone, and without begging or asking the family of the deceased. This was out of the people's desire to console the family of the deceased and to ensure that food was available for the family of the deceased without imposing any cost on them. Food was prepared from these grains for the family of the deceased and for those who came to offer condolences to the family of the deceased, who came from various places to receive condolences from the mourners. This situation continued. Then the sun of the Saudi state rose over the Arabian Peninsula, and the hand of generosity extended to all parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including our region. Sources of income diversified, replacing the previous reliance solely on agriculture and herding. Everyone began to draw from government resources, whether through a job, a stipend, or any other means of lawful income. Most foodstuffs came to be bought ready-made from outside the home of the family of the deceased. This led people to shift from paying a measure of grain to paying a sum of money, the amount of which was (fifty riyals). The intention behind paying this sum was to let the family of the deceased know of the community's consolation around them. The deceased might be the father or the provider for this family, so this sum would cover the expenses of this family, even if only for a short time, until the family of the deceased arranges their affairs. Food was also bought with this money for the family of the deceased and their relatives who came from various places to console the family of the deceased and receive condolences. It is known that paying this sum is a voluntary, optional matter; one who does not pay it is not blamed, and one who does not attend is not blamed. Moreover, this sum is light for the payer, and its collection by the family of the deceased will be a help to them in many matters of life, such as paying off the debt of the deceased. How many a deceased person died with a debt that was paid off from the remainder of this gift, benefiting the family of the deceased after his death until the burden of their calamity lightens. Recently, there has been much talk about this issue, knowing that it has no relation to the gathering of people at the home of the family of the deceased. It is common for the person offering condolences to come, console the bereaved, then separate from the closest people to the deceased and hand them the sum, or meet them at the cemetery, on the road, or in the mosque, or send this sum without burdening them and without begging from the relatives of the deceased.
Our region has changed, and sources of income have diversified, replacing the previous reliance solely on agriculture and herding. Now everyone draws from government resources, whether through a job, a stipend, or any other means of lawful income. Most food is now purchased ready-made from outside the deceased's home, which has led people to shift from giving a mudd of grain to giving a sum of money, set at (fifty riyals). The intention behind giving this amount is to express the community's sympathy to the deceased's family. The deceased may have been the father or the provider for this family, so this amount covers the family's expenses, even if only for a short time, until the family settles their affairs. Food is also bought with this money for the deceased's family and relatives who came from various places to console the family and offer condolences. It is known that giving this amount is a voluntary, optional matter; one who does not give it is not blamed, nor is one who does not attend blamed. Furthermore, this amount is a small burden on the giver, and its collection by the deceased's family will be a help to them in many matters of life, such as paying off the deceased's debts. How many are there who died with debts that were paid off from the remainder of this gift? It also benefits the deceased's family after his death until the weight of their grief is lightened. Recently, there has been much talk about this issue, knowing that it has no connection to people gathering at the deceased's home. It is common for
the person offering condolences to console the bereaved, then take aside those closest to the deceased and hand them the amount, or meet them at the cemetery, on the road, or in the mosque, or send the amount without imposing on them or begging from the deceased's relatives. Given the above, and our desire to know the correct Islamic ruling on this issue from those who have dedicated themselves to clarifying and explaining the truth—and the truth is what should be followed—we hope you will express your opinion on the ruling of this issue.
A : It is not permissible to make giving money to the deceased's family a permanent practice for everyone who comes to offer condolences; because this has no basis in the religion of Islam. However, if a person dies and leaves behind a poor family with no provider, or if he had debts for which he left no means of payment, and someone who knows the situation volunteers what is easy for them to help them or to pay off the deceased's debt, then that is a good thing; because it is sympathy for the deceased's family or clearing his conscience of debt. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:2] . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We are some of the residents of Rajal 'Alam in the southern region. Our fathers and grandfathers lived relying on Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and then on what their farms produced in terms of grains, and on the available meat, milk, and ghee. This community was a living example embodying the social solidarity that our great Islamic religion guided us to. One form of this solidarity among the members of this community was that if a person from a poor family died, they might not have food available because they were preoccupied with their calamity, neglecting the pursuit of sustenance and arranging the means of livelihood. This led them to adopt a specific approach in solidarity with the family of the deceased. This approach was: for every person who came to offer condolences to bring a measure of grain, whether it was wheat, corn, or barley, each according to his ability, without burdening anyone, and without begging or asking the family of the deceased. This was out of the people's desire to console the family of the deceased and to ensure that food was available for the family of the deceased without imposing any cost on them. Food was prepared from these grains for the family of the deceased and for those who came to offer condolences to the family of the deceased, who came from various places to receive condolences from the mourners. This situation continued. Then the sun of the Saudi state rose over the Arabian Peninsula, and the hand of generosity extended to all parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including our region. Sources of income diversified, replacing the previous reliance solely on agriculture and herding. Everyone began to draw from government resources, whether through a job, a stipend, or any other means of lawful income. Most foodstuffs came to be bought ready-made from outside the home of the family of the deceased. This led people to shift from paying a measure of grain to paying a sum of money, the amount of which was (fifty riyals). The intention behind paying this sum was to let the family of the deceased know of the community's consolation around them. The deceased might be the father or the provider for this family, so this sum would cover the expenses of this family, even if only for a short time, until the family of the deceased arranges their affairs. Food was also bought with this money for the family of the deceased and their relatives who came from various places to console the family of the deceased and receive condolences. It is known that paying this sum is a voluntary, optional matter; one who does not pay it is not blamed, and one who does not attend is not blamed. Moreover, this sum is light for the payer, and its collection by the family of the deceased will be a help to them in many matters of life, such as paying off the debt of the deceased. How many a deceased person died with a debt that was paid off from the remainder of this gift, benefiting the family of the deceased after his death until the burden of their calamity lightens. Recently, there has been much talk about this issue, knowing that it has no relation to the gathering of people at the home of the family of the deceased. It is common for the person offering condolences to come, console the bereaved, then separate from the closest people to the deceased and hand them the sum, or meet them at the cemetery, on the road, or in the mosque, or send this sum without burdening them and without begging from the relatives of the deceased.
Our region has changed, and sources of income have diversified, replacing the previous reliance solely on agriculture and herding. Now everyone draws from government resources, whether through a job, a stipend, or any other means of lawful income. Most food is now purchased ready-made from outside the deceased's home, which has led people to shift from giving a mudd of grain to giving a sum of money, set at (fifty riyals). The intention behind giving this amount is to express the community's sympathy to the deceased's family. The deceased may have been the father or the provider for this family, so this amount covers the family's expenses, even if only for a short time, until the family settles their affairs. Food is also bought with this money for the deceased's family and relatives who came from various places to console the family and offer condolences. It is known that giving this amount is a voluntary, optional matter; one who does not give it is not blamed, nor is one who does not attend blamed. Furthermore, this amount is a small burden on the giver, and its collection by the deceased's family will be a help to them in many matters of life, such as paying off the deceased's debts. How many are there who died with debts that were paid off from the remainder of this gift? It also benefits the deceased's family after his death until the weight of their grief is lightened. Recently, there has been much talk about this issue, knowing that it has no connection to people gathering at the deceased's home. It is common for
the person offering condolences to console the bereaved, then take aside those closest to the deceased and hand them the amount, or meet them at the cemetery, on the road, or in the mosque, or send the amount without imposing on them or begging from the deceased's relatives. Given the above, and our desire to know the correct Islamic ruling on this issue from those who have dedicated themselves to clarifying and explaining the truth—and the truth is what should be followed—we hope you will express your opinion on the ruling of this issue.
A : It is not permissible to make giving money to the deceased's family a permanent practice for everyone who comes to offer condolences; because this has no basis in the religion of Islam. However, if a person dies and leaves behind a poor family with no provider, or if he had debts for which he left no means of payment, and someone who knows the situation volunteers what is easy for them to help them or to pay off the deceased's debt, then that is a good thing; because it is sympathy for the deceased's family or clearing his conscience of debt. And Allah the Exalted said:
cooperate in righteousness and piety
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.