Ways of Consoling
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Fatwa No. ( 4504 )
Q: Our question is about what is currently practiced in the condolence for the deceased. Recently, every village in the south has started collecting money to rent a tent, which is set up for three days when one of them dies. Groups of condolers come to them in that tent, one group after another, sit for a while, then leave and others come, and so on until these three days are over. These groups do not eat with the bereaved family, but with the group, especially those who come from a distant town. What confused us is setting up these tents and the continuous gathering during these three days, and the bereaved family feeding those who come from afar. Is there anything wrong with this? We ask for clarification of what is permissible and what is not in everything mentioned.
A: First: Consoling the family of the deceased is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Sunnah came from his actions (peace and blessings be upon him) and his words. Second: It is from the Sunnah to prepare food for the family of the deceased. It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far that he said: It was narrated by the five except al-Nasa'i . Third: Gathering at the home of the deceased and preparing food for them after
burial is not permissible. The basis for this is what Imam Ahmad narrated from Jarir ibn 'Abdullah al-Bajali who said: . Fourth: It is forbidden for the people of the village to collect money to rent a tent that is set up for three days when one of them dies, with groups coming to them in that tent, one after another, sitting for a while, then leaving and others coming, and so on until these three days are over; because that is a religious innovation with no basis in the pure Shari'ah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Our question is about what is currently practiced in the condolence for the deceased. Recently, every village in the south has started collecting money to rent a tent, which is set up for three days when one of them dies. Groups of condolers come to them in that tent, one group after another, sit for a while, then leave and others come, and so on until these three days are over. These groups do not eat with the bereaved family, but with the group, especially those who come from a distant town. What confused us is setting up these tents and the continuous gathering during these three days, and the bereaved family feeding those who come from afar. Is there anything wrong with this? We ask for clarification of what is permissible and what is not in everything mentioned.
A: First: Consoling the family of the deceased is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Sunnah came from his actions (peace and blessings be upon him) and his words. Second: It is from the Sunnah to prepare food for the family of the deceased. It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far that he said:
When the news of the death of Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) came, when he was killed, 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.
لما جاء نعي جعفر رضي الله عنه حين قتل قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: اصنعوا لآل جعفر طعامًا فقد أتاهم ما يشغلهمburial is not permissible. The basis for this is what Imam Ahmad narrated from Jarir ibn 'Abdullah al-Bajali who said:
We considered gathering at the home of the deceased and preparing food for them after his burial to be part of wailing.
كنا نعد الاجتماع إلى أهل الميت وصنعة الطعام بعد دفنه من النياحة
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.