His second question asks: Please inform us about the innovations in funeral gatherings, specifically regarding what is done for the deceased on the fifteenth night and the fortieth night. Is this correct or not?
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The questioner : Please inform us about the innovations in funeral gatherings. Some people hold gatherings for the deceased on the fifteenth night and the fortieth night. Is this correct or not? And is it permissible to hold a gathering for the deceased for one day or three days? Please inform us, and thank you.
The Shaykh : All funeral gatherings are religious innovations, whether they last three days, a week, or forty days, because they were not practiced by the righteous predecessors (may Allah be pleased with them).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If it had been good, they would have preceded us in doing it. Furthermore, they involve wasting money and squandering time, and they may lead to prohibited acts such as wailing and lamentation, which fall under the category of being cursed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the woman who wails and the one who listens to her wailing... Then, if the money used comes from the deceased's estate, specifically from his bequest, which I mean...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : ...it is an injustice against him, because it is spent on something other than obedience to Allah. If it comes from the heirs' wealth, and if there are minors or incompetent persons among them who do not manage affairs well, it is also an injustice against them, because a person is a trustee over their wealth and should not spend it except on what benefits them. And if it is for adults who are sane and prudent...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : ...it is also foolishness, because spending money on what does not bring one closer to Allah or benefit a person in this world is considered foolishness, and spending money in such matters is considered wasting it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the wasting of money.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : You have done well. Therefore, holding funeral gatherings is entirely prohibited, because they are either for the deceased, which is wasting his money without right, or for a weak person, a minor, or an incompetent person, or for an adult who is extravagant in...
The Shaykh : Yes, yes.
The questioner : You have done well. May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : All funeral gatherings are religious innovations, whether they last three days, a week, or forty days, because they were not practiced by the righteous predecessors (may Allah be pleased with them).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If it had been good, they would have preceded us in doing it. Furthermore, they involve wasting money and squandering time, and they may lead to prohibited acts such as wailing and lamentation, which fall under the category of being cursed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the woman who wails and the one who listens to her wailing... Then, if the money used comes from the deceased's estate, specifically from his bequest, which I mean...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : ...it is an injustice against him, because it is spent on something other than obedience to Allah. If it comes from the heirs' wealth, and if there are minors or incompetent persons among them who do not manage affairs well, it is also an injustice against them, because a person is a trustee over their wealth and should not spend it except on what benefits them. And if it is for adults who are sane and prudent...
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : ...it is also foolishness, because spending money on what does not bring one closer to Allah or benefit a person in this world is considered foolishness, and spending money in such matters is considered wasting it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the wasting of money.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : You have done well. Therefore, holding funeral gatherings is entirely prohibited, because they are either for the deceased, which is wasting his money without right, or for a weak person, a minor, or an incompetent person, or for an adult who is extravagant in...
The Shaykh : Yes, yes.
The questioner : You have done well. May Allah bless you.