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There
is no particular day for the paying of condolences
Question:
Is specifying three days for the paying of condolences considered
an innovation? Is there paying of condolences for young children,
elderly women and ill people from whom one does not expect
intercession after their death?
Response:
Giving condolences is Sunnah
as it strengthens the one afflicted and contains supplications
for what is better for them. There is no difference in this
matter between the deceased being young or old. Furthermore,
there is no specific expression that one should use. Instead,
the Muslim consoles his brother with whatever expression seems
suitable at that time, such as saying:
((May
Allaah make your grief easier and forgive your deceased)).
This
is if the deceased were a Muslim. If the deceased were a disbeliever,
then supplications should not be made for him. One only consoles
for his Muslim relatives with the words above. There is no
specific time for it, nor any specific days. It is legally
sanctioned from the time of death, before Funeral Prayer or
afterwards, as well as before the burial or afterwards. It
is best to do it soon after the death when the affliction
is still strong. However, it is permissible after three days
of the death since there is no evidence to restrict it [to
the first three days only].
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
Fataawa al-Mar.ah
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