Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله)
Question:
Is it an innovation (bid'ah) to limit offering condolences to three days? Is it permissible to offer condolences after the death of children, the elderly, or terminally ill patients?
Answer:
Offering condolences (ta'ziyah) is a Sunnah. The purpose of condolence is to console the bereaved family and pray for them. Whether the deceased is young or old does not make a difference, and there are no specific phrases that must be used for offering condolences. Rather, it is acceptable to offer words that appropriately console the grieving family. For example, one may say, "May Allah grant you beautiful patience, remove your hardship, and forgive the departed." This is appropriate when the deceased is a Muslim. However, if the deceased was a non-Muslim, it is not permissible to offer supplications for their forgiveness. Instead, condolences may be offered to their Muslim relatives using appropriate words, similar to those mentioned above.
There is no fixed time or specific day for offering condolences. It can be done before or after the funeral prayer, and similarly, before or after the burial. However, it is preferable to offer condolences during the time of grief when the family is most affected by the loss. Offering condolences after three days is also permissible because there is no evidence that limits condolences to a specific number of days.
Thus, restricting condolences to only three days is not based on any Islamic evidence, and it is acceptable to offer them whenever appropriate, without limiting the time frame.
Question:
Is it an innovation (bid'ah) to limit offering condolences to three days? Is it permissible to offer condolences after the death of children, the elderly, or terminally ill patients?
Answer:
Offering condolences (ta'ziyah) is a Sunnah. The purpose of condolence is to console the bereaved family and pray for them. Whether the deceased is young or old does not make a difference, and there are no specific phrases that must be used for offering condolences. Rather, it is acceptable to offer words that appropriately console the grieving family. For example, one may say, "May Allah grant you beautiful patience, remove your hardship, and forgive the departed." This is appropriate when the deceased is a Muslim. However, if the deceased was a non-Muslim, it is not permissible to offer supplications for their forgiveness. Instead, condolences may be offered to their Muslim relatives using appropriate words, similar to those mentioned above.
There is no fixed time or specific day for offering condolences. It can be done before or after the funeral prayer, and similarly, before or after the burial. However, it is preferable to offer condolences during the time of grief when the family is most affected by the loss. Offering condolences after three days is also permissible because there is no evidence that limits condolences to a specific number of days.
Thus, restricting condolences to only three days is not based on any Islamic evidence, and it is acceptable to offer them whenever appropriate, without limiting the time frame.
