Five Innovative Acts After Death and Their Islamic Ruling
Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ibn Baz رحمه الله said:
"Making a will to arrange feasts after death is an innovation and an act of ignorance. Even if there is no will, the family of the deceased arranging such feasts is also impermissible."
Jarir ibn ʿAbdullah (رضي الله عنه) said:
"We considered gathering at the house of the deceased and preparing food after burial as part of lamentation."
(Ibn Majah 1612)
Islamic guidance:
The Sharīʿah teaches the opposite — others should prepare food for the bereaved family to comfort them, as they are preoccupied with their loss.
Example:
When news came to the Prophet ﷺ of the martyrdom of Jaʿfar ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) at Mu’tah, he said to his family:
"Prepare food for the family of Jaʿfar, for there has come to them a matter that has preoccupied them."
(Abu Dawood 3132, Ibn Majah 1610, Fatawa Islamiyyah 2/88)
Fatwa of al-Lajnah al-Da’imah (Saudi Arabia):
Slaughtering animals or arranging feasts for the deceased on the day of death or on specific days (like the seventh or fortieth day) is a bidʿah.
Likewise, specifying certain days or nights for charity on behalf of the deceased (e.g., Thursday, Friday, or Friday night) is also an innovation.
Reason:
The Salaf al-Salih never practiced this, so it must be abandoned.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not from it, it will be rejected."
(Bukhari 2697, Muslim 1718, Fatawa Islamiyyah 2/76)
Statement of al-Lajnah al-Da’imah:
Neither the Prophet ﷺ, nor the Companions (رضي الله عنهم), nor the Salaf al-Salih ever held gatherings for the deceased:
Rather, this is a blameworthy innovation, originating from ancient Egyptian and non-Muslim customs.
Advice:
"Those who hold such gatherings must be advised and prevented, hoping they repent to Allah and avoid innovations and resemblance to non-Muslims."
(Fatawa Islamiyyah 2/98)
Incident:
A man sneezed in front of Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) and said:
"Alḥamdulillāh waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh."
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"I can say that too, but the Prophet ﷺ did not teach us this at this moment. He taught us to say: Alḥamdulillāh ʿalā kulli ḥāl."
(Tirmidhi 2738, al-Hakim 4/562, authenticated by al-Dhahabi)
From all of the above, it is clear that introducing any addition or new ritual into the religion is impermissible.
Any act the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) did not perform, we too must avoid.
It is every Muslim’s duty to shun innovations and adhere to Islam in its original form.
1 — Arranging Feasts After Death
Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ibn Baz رحمه الله said:
"Making a will to arrange feasts after death is an innovation and an act of ignorance. Even if there is no will, the family of the deceased arranging such feasts is also impermissible."
2 — Practice of the Companions
Jarir ibn ʿAbdullah (رضي الله عنه) said:
"We considered gathering at the house of the deceased and preparing food after burial as part of lamentation."
(Ibn Majah 1612)
Islamic guidance:
The Sharīʿah teaches the opposite — others should prepare food for the bereaved family to comfort them, as they are preoccupied with their loss.
Example:
When news came to the Prophet ﷺ of the martyrdom of Jaʿfar ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) at Mu’tah, he said to his family:
"Prepare food for the family of Jaʿfar, for there has come to them a matter that has preoccupied them."
(Abu Dawood 3132, Ibn Majah 1610, Fatawa Islamiyyah 2/88)
3 — Observing the Seventh or Fortieth Day
Fatwa of al-Lajnah al-Da’imah (Saudi Arabia):
Slaughtering animals or arranging feasts for the deceased on the day of death or on specific days (like the seventh or fortieth day) is a bidʿah.
Likewise, specifying certain days or nights for charity on behalf of the deceased (e.g., Thursday, Friday, or Friday night) is also an innovation.
Reason:
The Salaf al-Salih never practiced this, so it must be abandoned.
4 — Hadith Warning Against Innovations
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not from it, it will be rejected."
(Bukhari 2697, Muslim 1718, Fatawa Islamiyyah 2/76)
5 — Holding Gatherings for the Deceased
Statement of al-Lajnah al-Da’imah:
Neither the Prophet ﷺ, nor the Companions (رضي الله عنهم), nor the Salaf al-Salih ever held gatherings for the deceased:
- Not at the time of death
- Not after death
- Not on the seventh or fortieth day
- Not after one year
Rather, this is a blameworthy innovation, originating from ancient Egyptian and non-Muslim customs.
Advice:
"Those who hold such gatherings must be advised and prevented, hoping they repent to Allah and avoid innovations and resemblance to non-Muslims."
(Fatawa Islamiyyah 2/98)
Avoiding Excess in Religion
Incident:
A man sneezed in front of Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) and said:
"Alḥamdulillāh waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh."
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"I can say that too, but the Prophet ﷺ did not teach us this at this moment. He taught us to say: Alḥamdulillāh ʿalā kulli ḥāl."
(Tirmidhi 2738, al-Hakim 4/562, authenticated by al-Dhahabi)
Conclusion
From all of the above, it is clear that introducing any addition or new ritual into the religion is impermissible.
Any act the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions (رضي الله عنهم) did not perform, we too must avoid.
It is every Muslim’s duty to shun innovations and adhere to Islam in its original form.
