The Ruling on People Gathering for Condolences

Question:
Your Eminence the Shaykh! The questioner says: I love you for the sake of Allah. In our country, the family of the deceased gathers in a place for condolences. When we advise them that gathering for condolences is a religious innovation (bid'ah), they argue that the gathering is merely to receive relatives and kin who come from various areas to offer condolences. Is this gathering a bid'ah, or is it a recommended practice (sunnah)?

Answer:
We know of no harm in it, if it is merely a gathering of those offering condolences so that it is not difficult for them, so that they find them in a place where they gather and their neighbors and others offer them condolences. It is not a bid'ah. However, if they gather over food prepared by the family of the deceased, as Jarir said, "We considered gathering at the house and preparing food for them to be part of wailing." If the family gathers, prepares food, and assembles people around it, that is the bid'ah. But if someone comes to offer condolences and a group gathers with them to console them, and they pour them coffee or tea, or make it pleasant for them, there is nothing wrong with that. This is like other visits, because if they gather, it makes it easier for people to offer condolences. If they are scattered, people have to seek them out in other places. So this does no harm. Yes.