Ruling on collecting money from the people of the tribe and giving it to the relatives of the deceased

A: It is not permissible to oblige a person to pay a certain amount of money for the family of the deceased; for this is considered a form of eating up one another's property unjustly. If a person wants to help the needy family of the deceased, this is good. But giving banquets and slaughtering cattle on the part of the family of the deceased in what they call condolence has no basis in Shari`ah (Islamic law); rather, this is considered a kind of obligation and burden which they assume. The Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet) is for the relatives or neighbors of the deceased person to prepare food for the bereaved family according to their need, and serve it due to their being preoccupied with the disaster that befalls them to make food for themselves. It was reported that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was informed of the death of Ja`far ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), he said to his family: Make for the family of Ja`far food, for they are preoccupied with what befell them. As for the bereaved family, they should not prepare food for people, for it was authentically reported that Jarir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We used to consider sitting with the family of the deceased and making food for mourners after burial as a sort of wailing. However, if they make some food as usual for themselves and for a guest that pays them a visit, there is no harm in this.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.