Ruling on offering gifts to the deceased's family

Q 1: Both my father and my maternal grandmother died, may Allah bestow abundant mercy upon them both! One of the customs widespread among women in our country is that they would come to offer condolences and bring with them some coffee beans and money and offer them to the female relatives of the deceased. It happened that some women from nearby villages gave some coffee beans and money to my mother. This happened seven years ago. Yet now my mother, due to her old age, no longer knows who came to offer her condolences out of them, which makes her unable to give back the mentioned things to their owners. Now she wants to discharge her responsibility of the rights she owes to people, what should she do? Is this deed Shar`y (Islamically lawful) or is it a Bid`ah (innovation in religion)? Please give us a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar), may Allah reward you!


A: It is permissible to offer condolences through supplicating to Allah for the deceased and their family, commiserating with them, commending them to resort to patience and hope for Allah's reward, and serve them with food without extravagance or showing off. Accordingly, if what was brought by the mentioned women was offered as a gift and showing commiseration, there is nothing wrong with that.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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