The Ruling on Condolences in Newspapers and Magazines

Question:
A questioner asks: What is the ruling on publishing condolences in the newspapers, and replying to them in the newspapers as well, and writing the noble verses that contain praise for the deceased?

Answer:
In newspapers, as far as I have heard, it entails a great deal of expense, and there is a fear of extravagance and excessive spending without need. Otherwise, if one were to write, "May Allah reward the family of so-and-so for their loss and forgive the deceased," there would be no harm. But I have heard that it involves expense, so leaving it off is better if there is expense involved. One should send them a message or a telegram, and that is sufficient, if there is hardship and cost in publishing in the newspaper.
It is not the kind of publicizing of the dead that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade. The publicizing of the dead that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade was when the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance would, upon the death of one of their people, send a man to travel among the tribes to announce their dead to them. This was a practice of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. But if one writes a letter to offer condolences, or writes in the newspaper, "May Allah reward the family of so-and-so," there is nothing wrong with it. However, if it entails expense and burden, it should be left off; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the squandering of wealth, and this is a form of squandering wealth. It is sufficient to write a letter to them, or send a telegram, or make a phone call.