Food at the House of the Deceased

Question

In our area, when an elderly man or woman dies, on that very day — the day of death — the heirs of the deceased provide food: they cook rice with ghee and sugar and feed everyone, rich and poor, who took part in the funeral prayer. Some people have all of it at hand, while others have to take on a considerable debt. If the heirs of the deceased are poor and do not perform this custom, they are roundly cursed and reproached; therefore rich and poor alike are compelled to perform this custom.

Answer

It is known from the hadith that the people in whose house a death has occurred are occupied with preparing and shrouding the deceased (tajhiz wa takfin) and have no time to cook food; therefore other people should cook food for them and send it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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