The Ruling on Gathering and Eating at Condolence Gatherings

Question:
There are many questions, Shaykh, regarding the issue of condolences in our region, where, when a person dies, almost everyone in the village is a relative of his and is concerned about his matter. They gather in the deceased's house because they are all relatives of the deceased. Perhaps the deceased's sons or brothers come from a journey and gather in this house because they are among the deceased's relatives. They sit for three days, and food is brought to them by others, not by the deceased's relatives, but by people other than the deceased's relatives. However, they gather and eat from this food. This is considered part of wailing (niyaha).

Answer:
This is a bad custom that has taken hold of people today. This gathering and these many foods. There is no need for this. Condolences do not require this. Condolences are supplication for the deceased and supplication for the bereaved. May Allah improve your consolation, may Allah heal your affliction, and may Allah forgive your deceased. You say this to him when you meet him in the mosque, in the store, in the market, on the telephone, or on the mobile phone.
There is no need for this gathering that incurs these exorbitant costs. Also, for three days, work is not suspended. Suspending work for three days for the deceased is part of ihdad (mourning). Suspending work for the deceased is part of the ihdad that the Shari'ah has prohibited. Ihdad is only for women, the wives of the deceased. As for ihdad by suspending work, this is not permissible for men. So they have made condolences difficult now; they have made them very difficult. If they had followed the Sunnah and the easing of condolences, it would have been easier for people. Yes.