A:
What you have mentioned concerning
the person offering condolences and raising his hands to his shoulders upon entering the house of the family of the deceased, and reciting Al-Fatihah with them, then they sit and he offers his greetings, all this is an act of Bid`ah (innovation in religion). However, it is prescribed to say Salam (Islamic greeting of peace) but not to recite Al-Fatihah or anything that is not ordained or to raise his hands to his shoulders.