Is it okay for the family of the deceased to make food at the time of death, for the people who come for condolences?

by Asma bint Shameem 

ANSWER

Instead of the family of the deceased making food, it’s Sunnah that the relatives, friends and neighbors of the deceased should make food and bring it to the person’s house who has passed away.

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ instructed us to do that. 

When Ja’far radhi Allaahu anhu was killed, the Prophet ﷺ went to his family and said: 

“The family of Ja’far are busy with the matter of their deceased, so prepare food for them.’ (Ibn Majah - hasan by al-Albaani)

The family of the deceased is already going through a difficult time and it’s  just simply part of the consideration we have for others that people should help out and lighten this time of grief for them as much as possible. 

So we can bring food and help out in whatever way we can. 

The immediate family of the deceased should not cook food for the people coming for condolences for the sake of the person who passed away. 

That’s a kind of “wailing” and “mourning” that’s not allowed. 

🍃 Jareer ibn Abdullaah radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“We used to consider gathering with the family of the deceased and preparing food after the burial from niyahah (prohibited form of wailing and lamentation from the days of ignorance)."

(Ahmad- saheeh by al-Albaani) 

But if the family offers some tea, or food etc on their own, to those visiting, without any special preparations for it, then it’s allowed for the visitors to eat and drink there. 

🍃 Shaikh ibn Baaz said:

“It is not permitted for the family to (especially) make food for people for the sake of the deceased.

This is one of the actions of the Jaahiliyyah, whether it is done on the day of the death, or on the fourth or tenth day after the death, or at the new year. 

All of that is not permitted.

But if guests come to the family of the deceased during the mourning period, there is nothing wrong with them making food for them for the sake of hospitality, and there is nothing wrong with the household inviting whoever they want of their neighbors and relatives to eat with them from the food that has been given to them.” (Majmoo’ Fataawa)

And Allaah knows best