Is gathering for condolences, which has become a social custom rather than an act of worship imposed by the necessities of communication and compassion, considered an innovation (bid'ah) that leads to burden and hardship for people, especially since it allows offering condolences to the deceased's family who come from distant places? And is innovation (bid'ah) limited to acts of worship or does it also include customs?
Innovation (Bid‘ah) is an invented method in religion that parallels the , intended to exaggerate worship. The gathering of the deceased's family is prohibited for two reasons: First, it is an innovation (muhdath and bid‘ah), and scholars like Al-Shirazi and Ibn Al-Hammām disliked it. Imam Ahmad considered it an act of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance). Second, it falls under the forbidden lamentation (niyāḥah). Jarir considered gathering at the deceased's family's home and preparing food after burial as part of lamentation. The deceased's family should attend to their needs, and whoever encounters them should offer condolences. They should not gather in a house to receive condolences.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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