THE DEAD CHAPTER · 30 – PREPARING FOOD FOR THE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED
It is narrated from Abdullah bin Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Prepare food for Ja'far’s family, for a calamity has come upon them which will prevent them from preparing it themselves.” [61]
**Explanation:**
When the news arrived of the martyrdom of Ja'far al-Tayyar in the Battle of Mu'ta, his family was overcome with grief. Therefore, the Master of Mankind (peace and blessings upon him) ordered that food be prepared for them. It is recommended practice (sunnah mustahabbah) for relatives and neighbors of the deceased to prepare and bring food to the family of the deceased. Nowadays, in some places, this sunnah has been reversed; when someone dies, food is immediately prepared in their home, and neighbors come to eat it. This behavior is an innovation (bid'ah) because it does not conform to the sunnah.