5. Gathering to Give Condolences

The practise of organizing gatherings in the home, at the grave or in the masjid to give condolenses to the family of the dead person is against the sunnah of the companions of the Prophet (r). ﺩِ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﺒﻥِ ﻋﺭِﻴﺭٍ ﺒ ﺠﻥﻋ ﻠِﻲ ﻗﹶﺎلَﺠﻪِ ﺍﻟﹾﺒ : ﺎﻡِ ﻤِﻥﺔﹶ ﺍﻟﻁﱠﻌﻨﹾﻌﺼﺕِ ﻭﻴلِ ﺍﻟﹾﻤ ﺇِﻟﹶﻰ ﺃَﻫﺎﻉﺘِﻤﻯ ﺍﹾﻹِﺠﻜﹸﻨﱠﺎ ﻨﹶﺭ ﺔِ ﺎﺤﺍﻟﻨﱢﻴ . 45 Collected by at-Tirmithee and Sunan Ibn-i-Majah vol.2, p.382 no.1476. 46 Collected by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, Sahih al-Bukhari, vol.2, p.227 no.404, Sahih Muslim vol.2, p.452 no.2077 &2078, Sunan Abu Dawud vol.2, p.911, no.3198 and Mishkat Al-Masabih,, vol.1, p.348.

Jareer ibn ‘Abdillaah al-Bajalee said, “We used to regard gathering at the home of the deceased’s family and their preparation of food an aspect of wailing.”47 Imaam ash-Shaafi‘ee said, “I dislike gatherings, even if there is no wailing or crying. For it only renews the [family’s feelings of] sorrow and puts burdens on their food supplies.”48 Imaam an-Nawawee related that the leading scholars prohibited organized gatherings based on it being an innovation.49