The ruling on the wedding feast at the time of death with the intention of charity

Question:
This is a message from the listener Abdullah Hamad Hussein al-‘Amiri, who says: What is the ruling on slaughtering an animal for the deceased upon his death with the intention of preparing a walimah (wedding feast) as charity for this deceased, as is the custom among us in the desert of the Arab region of Egypt?

Answer:
It is not prescribed for a Muslim to prepare a walimah for his deceased, neither by slaughtering nor otherwise. When the deceased dies, it is prescribed for the relatives of the deceased to prepare food for the family of the deceased and their neighbors, and the like.
As for the family of the deceased, they do not prepare food, nor do they slaughter an animal for the sake of the deceased, nor do they gather people for it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when the news of the death of Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) reached him, having been killed in Sham in Jordan, ordered his family to prepare food for the family of Ja‘far. He said: .
So the Sunnah is that food should be prepared for the family of the deceased by their neighbors and distant relatives for the closer relatives. As for the family of the deceased preparing food and gathering the neighbors, this is not appropriate; rather, it is from religious innovations and from the condemned mourning rituals. Jarir ibn Abdullah al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We used to consider gathering with the family of the deceased and preparing food after death to be part of wailing." So Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that they used to consider the gathering of people for the family of the deceased, and the preparation of food by the family of the deceased for people, to be part of wailing. That is, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) considered it so, and that indicates that the family of the deceased do not prepare food for people nor gather them. However, it is recommended for their neighbors and distant relatives to send them food because they are occupied with their calamity.
As for one who slaughters an animal for the sake of giving it in charity on behalf of the deceased to the poor and needy, there is no blame on him for that. But it should not be at a specific time, and no one should be gathered for it. Rather, it is slaughtered and its meat is distributed to the poor and needy as charity at any time; it has no specific time, and it has no special connection to the day of death. Rather, whenever he does it at any time with the intention of supporting the poor, or gives them money, or clothes, or food other than meat, all of this is beneficial for the deceased, and its doer is rewarded for it. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he was asked about this. A man said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother died suddenly and did not leave a bequest, and I think that if she had been able to speak, she would have given charity. Will she receive a reward if I give charity on her behalf?" The Prophet said: May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.
So charity on behalf of the deceased is beneficial by the consensus of the Muslims. But it should be done at times other than the time of death so that it is not taken as a Sunnah or a custom. Rather, it should be distributed to the poor at other times without specifying a particular time, not the day of death, nor the seventh day of death, nor the fortieth day of death, so that it has no special distinction.
As for what some people do of holding mourning gatherings on the first day, or the seventh, or the fortieth, gatherings where they gather people and slaughter sheep or others, this is something with no basis; rather, it is from religious innovations, so it is not permissible.

The presenter: Yes, may Allah reward you.