Fatwa ID: 07362
Answered by: Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar
Question:
I want to know the ruling on attending gatherings for 3 days after someone’s death? In the gatherings, the community will read quran, pray durood etc for the deceased.
Carrying on from this, if I cannot attend the 3 days, culturally, we must visit the house for condolences.
Is there any basis of this in Islam?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In Islam, the maximum number of days one is allowed to mourn/leave their daily routine for mourning is three days. The exception is the woman who loses her husband, who is given her ‘iddah period for mourning.
Reciting Quran and durood on behalf of the deceased is a good thing and can be done even after three days as it is a form of Sadaqa jariyah for the deceased.
Offering condolences is permissible and is seen as a moral obligation to support each other during difficult times. It’s encouraged to visit the family of the deceased, offer prayers for them, and pray for the deceased.
Consoling a grieving family is a sunnah of Rasulullah (saw). Numerous hadiths recount instances where Rasulullah (saw) would visit families to express his sympathy over their loss. He would provide words of encouragement and support to the bereaved family, often highlighting the virtues of the deceased and their esteemed position with Allah to comfort the grieving.
Rasulullah (saw) understood the family’s pain and even advised others to prepare and deliver food for them during their time of mourning.
صحيح البخاري – ط السلطانية ٧/٦٠
وَسَمِعْتُ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ: «لَا يَحِلُّ لِامْرَأَةٍ مُسْلِمَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ فَوْقَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ، إِلَّا عَلَى زَوْجِهَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا»
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ ، قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: «لَمَّا جَاءَ نَعْيُ جَعْفَرٍ» قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: اصْنَعُوا لِأَهْلِ جَعْفَرٍ طَعَامًا، فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مَا يَشْغَلُهُمْ.
هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ.
وَقَدْ كَانَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ يَسْتَحِبُّ أَنْ يُوَجَّهَ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْمَيِّتِ شَيْءٌ لِشُغْلِهِمْ بِالْمُصِيبَةِ، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ.
وَجَعْفَرُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ هُوَ ابْنُ سَارَةَ، وَهُوَ ثِقَةٌ، رَوَى عَنْهُ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
