Is it permissible to delay the funeral prayer? And what is the ruling on lining up for condolences?

The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Lately, it has become common to delay the funeral prayer until the next day or until the relatives of the deceased arrive, as well as lining up after the burial for condolences. What is your opinion on this?

The Shaykh : As for the first matter: it is contrary to the Sunnah, and there is no doubt about this, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Delaying it is contrary to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Furthermore, it is a harm to the deceased, because a righteous deceased person, when he leaves his home, says: "Hasten us, hasten us," wishing for speed, because he is facing a residence in Paradise. May Allah make us among them. So, it is a harm to the deceased on one hand, and contrary to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the other. As for his relatives or friends who are not present, they can, when they arrive, pray over his grave, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed over the grave of the man or the woman who used to clean the mosque. As for lining up for condolences, people adopted this, saying that it is easier. In the past, every person would go to the side of the deceased's family; when they had offered condolences to one, they would seek out the other, asking, "Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so?" So they said, "Let us all gather together so that it is easier." If this matter does not develop into something prohibited, I see no harm in it, if Allah wills. But what I see no basis for is that they accept the condolences of the deceased's family, and this has no origin, unless a person is arriving from a journey and they accept his condolences based on his arrival from the journey. Yes.