What is the ruling on eulogizing the dead and holding parties and gatherings for that purpose?

Eulogizing is weeping over the deceased and praising them after their death, or composing poetry about them. It also refers to expressing anguish over an affliction. Scholars hold two opinions on this matter: The first is that eulogies are permissible, which is the view of the Hanafis and Shafi'is, who cite the actions of the Companions and many scholars as evidence. The second is that eulogies are disliked, which is a view among the Shafi'is, who cite a weak hadith prohibiting eulogies as evidence.

Al-Qarafi divided eulogies into four categories: 1. Forbidden (major sin): Any speech that suggests God is unjust in His decree, or glorifies the deceased to the point of disbelief (kufr). 2. Forbidden (minor sin): Any speech that does not reach the level of disbelief but incites extreme sorrow and grief, leading to impatience and lack of forbearance. 3. Permissible: Any speech that is free from the aforementioned, and mentions the deceased's religiosity, their transition to receiving recompense for their good deeds, and that death is an inevitable path. 4. Recommended: Any speech that goes beyond the permissible by encouraging the deceased's family to be patient and seek reward, and to commend their deceased to God.

Ibn Baz indicated that eulogy poems are not among the prohibited forms of lamentation (na'i), but exaggeration or falsehoods in them are not permissible. Therefore, holding eulogy gatherings and assembling for them is prohibited, especially if accompanied by inciting grief, objecting to divine decree, or lying in describing the deceased. However, merely mentioning the deceased's good qualities and expressing anguish and sorrow for them is permissible if free from prohibited elements.