What is the ruling on the family of the deceased gathering in a specific place to receive condolences?

Scholars differed concerning the ruling on gathering for condolences. One group held it to be disliked (makruh), adducing as proof that the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions did not do it, and citing a narration from Jarir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "We used to consider gathering with the deceased's family and preparing food after his burial as a form of wailing (niyaha)."

Another group held it to be permissible if the gathering was free from forbidden acts and renewing grief. They adduced as proof that the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), used to prepare talbina for those gathered after the deceased's passing, and that gathering for condolences is a matter of custom, not worship, and the basic principle regarding customs is permissibility.

Those who permit it consider the narration from Jarir to be weak, and even if it were authentic, they interpret it as referring to a gathering where food is prepared by the deceased's family, thus burdening them. Furthermore, permissibility is closer to ease and removing hardship from people in this era.