What is the ruling on preparing food for the family of the deceased, and is there a specific time or place for it? Is consolation limited to three days, and where does it take place? Is it valid before or after burial?

Making food for the family of the deceased is recommended for one day and night in their home, as narrated by Al-Shafi'i that it is "a sunnah and an act of the righteous." It is also recommended for their neighbors to make food for them, even if the deceased is in another country. Offering condolences to the afflicted is recommended after burial, or before it if the family of the deceased is distressed. Condolences are valid in any place, and their duration is three days according to the majority of jurists.