Q: This question is related to offering condolences. Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) use to raise his hands and recite Surah (Qur'anic chapter) Al-Fatihah as our Sudanese brothers do? It is also their habit that they meet with the bereaved family on Fridays at the flat of the association in Riyadh. Huge numbers of Sudanese brothers, more than 500 persons, stay there from `Asr (Afternoon) Prayer to `Isha' (Night) Prayer. Each one gives five riyals to the bereaved family. They drink tea and some of them even smoke cigarettes. Because of this occasion of exchanging condolences, some of them abandon the congregational Salah (Prayer) on all week days except Fridays just to attend the Khutbah (sermon). We told them that this practice is tantamount to Bid`ah (innovation in religion) but they replied that they are just following the habit of their ancestors. Finally, they asked me to provide an official letter from you regarding this matter.