Translation: Aboo Aamir Ishaaq bn AbdirRaheem
Question: Some people carry out feast by slaughtering animals when any of their relative dies; what they spend on the feast is got from the wealth of the dead person; what is the ruling on that? And if a dead person had willed before his death that when he dies, such a feast should be carried out on his behalf, does the Shariah make it binding on the heirs to implement this kind of testament?
Answer: A testament that says a funeral feast should be carried out after a person is dead is an innovation and from the ways of the times of ignorance; so also is what the relatives of the deceased person do with respect to such feast even if they do it out of their own volition – without a testament to the effect, the act is still a reprehensible one, it is not permissible that such should be done based on what has come authentically from Jarir bn Abdullah Al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: ‘We used to consider gathering in the house of the bereaved family, and preparation of food after the dead person is buried as An-Niyaa’ah (bemoaning the dead person).’ Imam Ahmad reported it with a sound Sanad.
The above is so because such a practice is against what Allaah –the Blessed and Mighty – has legislated with regard to assisting the relatives of a dead person with giving food to them because they are preoccupied with the affliction. This is also due to what has come from the Prophet (sallallâhu ’alayhi wa sallam) that when the news of the martyrdom of Ja’far bn Abee Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) at the Battle of Mu’tah reached him, he (sallallâhu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to his household: ‘Prepare food for the family Ja’far, what will preoccupy them has happened to them.'
(Maj’mu Fatawa Wa Maqalaat Mutanawwiah, 4/347), Fatwa rendered by Ibn Baaz (may Allah bestow His mercy on him).
