What is the ruling on preparing food for people other than the deceased's family for a period of three days, for example?
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The questioner : Regarding preparing food for people other than the deceased, for example the neighbors, for a period of three days?
The Shaykh : Meaning they prepare the food and send it to the deceased's family?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is prescribed once, on the condition that the deceased's family is occupied with something that prevents them from preparing food. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when the news of the death of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib came:Sunan Ibn Majah 1610Hasan (Darussalam) His statement: Sunan Ibn Majah 1610Hasan (Darussalam) indicates that the operative cause is that they were occupied with this calamity. If this cause is removed, then the ruling dependent on it is removed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, if the deceased's family has nothing to occupy them from preparing food, then preparing food for them and sending it to them is removed. Furthermore, what some people do today of preparing many foods, sending many sheep, and gathering large crowds at the deceased's home for three days is among the religious innovations that must be clarified to people and they must be guided to abandon it. This is because it involves wasting time and wasting money, and it contradicts the Sunnah. It may also involve free mixing between men and women, and it occupies people with the remembrance of Allah that is commanded in the case of calamity, which is saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better." "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better" They become occupied with these tangible matters instead of the religious matters, which are saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" and asking Allah to reward them for the calamity and to replace it for them with something better.
And on this occasion, I offer advice to my brothers who have become accustomed to these customs. I say: restrain yourselves, follow what the Salaf of the Ummah were upon, for the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Do not tire yourselves and others with such matters for which Allah has not sent down any authority. These are matters in which you are closer to sin than to safety. So rest yourselves, rest your families, rest your relatives, and rest your companions, and in doing so you will achieve conformity with the guidance of the righteous Salaf. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : Meaning they prepare the food and send it to the deceased's family?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is prescribed once, on the condition that the deceased's family is occupied with something that prevents them from preparing food. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when the news of the death of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib came:
Prepare food for the family of Ja’far, for there has come to them that which is keeping them busy
اصنعوا لأل جعفر طعاماً، فقد أتاهم ما يشغلهمfor there has come to them that which is keeping them busy
فقد أتاهم ما يشغلهمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, if the deceased's family has nothing to occupy them from preparing food, then preparing food for them and sending it to them is removed. Furthermore, what some people do today of preparing many foods, sending many sheep, and gathering large crowds at the deceased's home for three days is among the religious innovations that must be clarified to people and they must be guided to abandon it. This is because it involves wasting time and wasting money, and it contradicts the Sunnah. It may also involve free mixing between men and women, and it occupies people with the remembrance of Allah that is commanded in the case of calamity, which is saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better." "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better" They become occupied with these tangible matters instead of the religious matters, which are saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" and asking Allah to reward them for the calamity and to replace it for them with something better.
And on this occasion, I offer advice to my brothers who have become accustomed to these customs. I say: restrain yourselves, follow what the Salaf of the Ummah were upon, for the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Do not tire yourselves and others with such matters for which Allah has not sent down any authority. These are matters in which you are closer to sin than to safety. So rest yourselves, rest your families, rest your relatives, and rest your companions, and in doing so you will achieve conformity with the guidance of the righteous Salaf. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.