The Ruling on Preparing Food for Condolence Visitors in the House of the Bereaved

Question:
And you have benefited from it. This listener, Abdul Qadir, says: In our country, when someone from the family passes away, they prepare food and receive the condolence visitors in their home, honoring them. He asks about the ruling on this action. May Allah bless you.

Answer:
You are doing the opposite of the Sunnah, because you are preparing food; you are preparing food for the people who come to you, and this is contrary to the Sunnah. The Sunnah is to prepare food according to the needs of the bereaved family and send it to them, because they are occupied with their grief and unable to prepare food. This is a form of helping them and consoling them. When Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred in the Battle of Mu'tah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Prepare food for the family of Ja'far, for something has come to them that occupies them." Yes.