What is the ruling on designating three days for condolences?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
In these times, it has become the custom of people to observe three days for condolences. Is this matter a religious innovation?
The Shaykh:
Yes, designating specific days and places for condolences, specifying a time and place, and preparing food, all of this is among the bid'ah (religious innovations) that[Al-A'raf 7:71]. Condolences are offered in the house, on the road, in the mosque, in the shop, in the store, or at the workplace. Yes, there is no designated place for them. Yes.
The questioner:
And is designating it as sitting in the home considered from wailing?
The Shaykh:
The Prophet, Jarir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), said: We used to consider gathering at the deceased's home to prepare food as part of wailing. So, making an effort in these matters, developing them, and announcing them in the newspapers, this is not permissible. Yes.
In these times, it has become the custom of people to observe three days for condolences. Is this matter a religious innovation?
The Shaykh:
Yes, designating specific days and places for condolences, specifying a time and place, and preparing food, all of this is among the bid'ah (religious innovations) that
for which Allah has not sent down any authority
مَّا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍThe questioner:
And is designating it as sitting in the home considered from wailing?
The Shaykh:
The Prophet, Jarir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), said: We used to consider gathering at the deceased's home to prepare food as part of wailing. So, making an effort in these matters, developing them, and announcing them in the newspapers, this is not permissible. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم تخصيص ثلاثة أيام للعزاء؟ للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.