The Ruling on People Gathering for Condolences
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What is the ruling on people gathering for condolences?
People gathering for condolences is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and was not the practice of the Salaf. If preparing food, holding feasts, and gathering for them is added to this, then this is part of wailing, just as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) considered gathering at the deceased's home and preparing food to be wailing. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who wails and the one who listens to it.
Furthermore, this gathering does not benefit the deceased, nor does it benefit the living. In fact, the living may increase in sorrow and worry, as some of them gather with each other, especially the women, and they begin to cry and wail. So there is no good in it; rather, there is harm in it.
Therefore, it is recommended (should) for students of knowledge to forbid this. And whoever wants to offer condolences, he will find the man in the mosque, or in the market, or elsewhere. Also, condolences are for the one who has been struck by a calamity, not for the one who has lost a relative. A person may lose a relative and not be affected by it, but if we see a man who is sorrowful, worried, and affected by the calamity, we sit with him.And We said: O so-and-so! Be patient and seek reward from Allah. To Allah belongs what He takes, and to Him belongs what He gives, and everything with Him is by a specified term.
People gathering for condolences is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and was not the practice of the Salaf. If preparing food, holding feasts, and gathering for them is added to this, then this is part of wailing, just as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) considered gathering at the deceased's home and preparing food to be wailing. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who wails and the one who listens to it.
Furthermore, this gathering does not benefit the deceased, nor does it benefit the living. In fact, the living may increase in sorrow and worry, as some of them gather with each other, especially the women, and they begin to cry and wail. So there is no good in it; rather, there is harm in it.
Therefore, it is recommended (should) for students of knowledge to forbid this. And whoever wants to offer condolences, he will find the man in the mosque, or in the market, or elsewhere. Also, condolences are for the one who has been struck by a calamity, not for the one who has lost a relative. A person may lose a relative and not be affected by it, but if we see a man who is sorrowful, worried, and affected by the calamity, we sit with him.And We said: O so-and-so! Be patient and seek reward from Allah. To Allah belongs what He takes, and to Him belongs what He gives, and everything with Him is by a specified term.