The claim that the grave is dark until food is given on behalf of the deceased
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The first and second questions of Fatwa No. ( 5090 )
Q1: Is it permissible for the family of the deceased to prepare food on the very day
of the death, and serve it to those who accompany the funeral procession, with the food being served before the burial of the deceased? Those who adhere to this practice cite verses regarding charity and spending in the cause of Allah, claiming that the grave is dark and there is no light, so that serving food to people kindles a light that illuminates the darkness of the grave, and before the deceased enters the grave, the grave becomes illuminated.
A1 : Preparing food by the family of the deceased for those who accompany the funeral procession is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is not permissible to do; rather, it is one of the matters of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). As for the claim that the grave is dark, and that providing food by the family of the deceased and giving charity on his behalf before his burial illuminates the darkness of the grave, and that before he enters his grave the grave becomes light—this has no basis, and asserting it is mere speculation about the unseen; because this is among the matters of the unseen, which no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: Is it permissible for the family of the deceased to prepare food on the very day
of the death, and serve it to those who accompany the funeral procession, with the food being served before the burial of the deceased? Those who adhere to this practice cite verses regarding charity and spending in the cause of Allah, claiming that the grave is dark and there is no light, so that serving food to people kindles a light that illuminates the darkness of the grave, and before the deceased enters the grave, the grave becomes illuminated.
A1 : Preparing food by the family of the deceased for those who accompany the funeral procession is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is not permissible to do; rather, it is one of the matters of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). As for the claim that the grave is dark, and that providing food by the family of the deceased and giving charity on his behalf before his burial illuminates the darkness of the grave, and that before he enters his grave the grave becomes light—this has no basis, and asserting it is mere speculation about the unseen; because this is among the matters of the unseen, which no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.