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What is the ruling on distributing booklets and leaflets and delivering lectures at a condolence gathering to control the behavior of some women?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The basic principle of offering condolences is to comfort the family of the deceased. Sitting for condolences is disliked because it is an innovation (bid'ah) and renews grief. The Companions considered gathering at the deceased's home and preparing food after burial to be a form of wailing (niyāḥah). It is not permissible to deliver lectures or sermons, or to distribute booklets at a condolence gathering. Similarly, erecting tents, bringing chairs, holding formal mourning ceremonies, preparing food, raising one's voice in wailing, reciting the Quran, and limiting condolences to three days—all of these are innovations that were not transmitted from the pious predecessors (salaf). "There is no basis for female callers to Islam (dā'iyāt) to organize condolence gatherings for the purpose of delivering a da'wah speech." However, it is permissible to advise with kindness and remind women of what should be observed and to control their actions, without making this a regular practice.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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