The Ruling on the Hadith: (No Sitting for Condolences)
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Question:
This is a questioner for the program who sent a set of recorded questions (A. S.) from the Arab Republic of Egypt, saying: Your Eminence, Shaykh! Are these hadiths authentic: “No sitting for condolences” and “No condolences after three days”? We ask for clarification, as it is our custom that when a death occurs, all the relatives gather in the deceased’s house to receive condolences? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This statement is not a hadith, but it is from the words of some scholars, and it is not a hadith. “No sitting for condolences” and “No condolences after three days” — this is not a hadith, not from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). But it came in the authentic hadith:Sahih Muslim 938c As for the three days, there is no harm in her wearing clothing other than her usual attire, and not applying perfume; there is no harm in this for three days. After the three days, she remains in her original state and does not change anything. As for the wife, she observes mourning for four months and ten days for her husband; she observes mourning for four months and ten days.
As for sitting for condolences, there is no basis for it in the Shari'ah. But if one sits in the customary manner in his house, and the brothers visit him to offer condolences in the customary sitting after Maghrib, after Dhuhr, after Duha, the customary sitting is permissible, without preparing a feast. But he sits in the customary manner, and his brothers come to greet him and offer condolences; there is no blame in this, even if it is after three days, or if they offer condolences after a month, or after ten days, if the news reached them late and they offer condolences, there is no harm. Even if it is after three days, there is no blame in that, and praise be to Allah.
The presenter: Is the telephone sufficient for condolences, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh: And the telephone is sufficient for condolences via the phone, there is no harm, or via correspondence, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
This is a questioner for the program who sent a set of recorded questions (A. S.) from the Arab Republic of Egypt, saying: Your Eminence, Shaykh! Are these hadiths authentic: “No sitting for condolences” and “No condolences after three days”? We ask for clarification, as it is our custom that when a death occurs, all the relatives gather in the deceased’s house to receive condolences? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This statement is not a hadith, but it is from the words of some scholars, and it is not a hadith. “No sitting for condolences” and “No condolences after three days” — this is not a hadith, not from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). But it came in the authentic hadith:
A woman must not observe mourning for one who had died for more than three
لا تحد امرأة على ميت فوق ثلاثAs for sitting for condolences, there is no basis for it in the Shari'ah. But if one sits in the customary manner in his house, and the brothers visit him to offer condolences in the customary sitting after Maghrib, after Dhuhr, after Duha, the customary sitting is permissible, without preparing a feast. But he sits in the customary manner, and his brothers come to greet him and offer condolences; there is no blame in this, even if it is after three days, or if they offer condolences after a month, or after ten days, if the news reached them late and they offer condolences, there is no harm. Even if it is after three days, there is no blame in that, and praise be to Allah.
The presenter: Is the telephone sufficient for condolences, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh: And the telephone is sufficient for condolences via the phone, there is no harm, or via correspondence, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.