Food at the burial home

Question:-

I have noticed people arrange meals at the house of the deceased, after the burial. This is sometimes arranged in a tent. Is this correct?
Also, the face is of the deceased is opened before family members. Is this correct?

Answer:-

1. It is recorded in the a narration of Musnad-e-Ahmad and Abu Dawud Sharif that, when the news of the demise of Hadrat Ja’far Radiallahu Anhu reached Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam he said, “Prepare food for the family of Ja’far, for certainly a matter has come to them that has occupied them.”

حدثنا سفيان، حدثنا جعفر بن خالد، عن أبيه، عن عبد الله بن جعفر، قال: لما جاء نعي جعفر حين قتل، قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” اصنعوا لآل جعفر طعاما، فقد أتاهم أمر يشغلهم – أو أتاهم ما يشغلهم (مسند احمد)

Yes, there is no harm if the neighbours bring food for the family members, or members of the community take those who attended the Janaazah from out of the locality, to their homes for meals. This will relieve the family members and make it easy for them.

Now, if a tent is put up due to lack of space in the home, or to avoid intermingling, then there is no harm in doing so, as many people do come to the home of the deceased to offer their condolences, which is in accordance to Shariah. However, the occasion should not become a feast and party, as the family of the deceased are grieved, and secondly, it is an occasion that should remind us of the hereafter as well. We should therefore engage in some form of Ibaadat individually (at the home of the deceased) such as, recitation of the Quraan Sharif, Zikr, etc. and pass over the rewards to the deceased. This will be of benefit to them.

2. Just as it is not permissible for a male to see a Ghair Mahram female in her lifetime, similarly it is not permissible to view her face after her demise. The same ruling is applicable to a female that, just as it is not permissible for her to look at a Ghair Mahram male in his lifetime, it is not permissible to view his face after his demise. [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Deoband Pg.189 Vol.5] Hence, the face should not be left open for one and all to view, which is a custom of the disbelievers. Yes, the close family members that are Mahaarim may view the face. However, the Janaazah should not be delayed unnecessarily, and by keeping the Janaazah at the home, the burial is generally delayed.

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 13 Shabaan 1444 / 06 March 2023