What is the ruling on the food prepared by the family of the deceased for the condolence gathering?

Question:
My cousin passed away, and my other uncle prepared a dinner at the deceased's family's home. Yes? My cousin, he says my other uncle prepared a dinner at the deceased's family's home. Is it permissible to attend this dinner, or is it considered part of the forbidden wailing?

Answer:
If the dinner is prepared by the family of the deceased, then it is part of the wailing and is not permissible. It is not permissible for the family of the deceased to prepare food for people and call them to it; this is part of the wailing. As Jarir ibn Abdullah said, "We considered preparing food and gathering at the house of the deceased to be part of the wailing." However, if someone prepares it and gifts it to them out of consideration for their need, there is no harm in that. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided by saying, "Prepare food for the family of Ja'far, for they have been occupied by what has befallen them." So, preparing food according to their need and gifting it to them is part of the Sunnah. But if they are the ones preparing the food, that is a religious innovation. Yes.