Food for the Family of a Deceased People of the Book

صنع الطعام لأهل الميت الكتابي.

Preparing Food for the Family of a Deceased Person from the People of the Book

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article about Preparing Food for the Family of a Deceased Person from the People of the Book is included in the Islamic Question and Answer Category

السؤال:

Question:

هل يجوز صنع الطعام لأهل الميت الكتابي إذا كانوا يصنعون الطعام لأهل الميت المسلم ؟

Is it permissible to prepare food for the family of a deceased person from the People of the Book if they also prepare food for the families of deceased Muslims?

الإجابــة:

Answer:

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وعلى آله وصحبه، أما بعد: 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions. To proceed:

فلا حرج من صنع الطعام لأهل الميت الكتابي إذا كانوا مسالمين؛ لأن هذا من باب البرِّ بهم والإحسان إليهم، وقد ندبنا الله تعالى إلى ذلك بقوله عز وجl:

There is no harm in preparing food for the family of a deceased person from the People of the Book if they are peaceful (non-hostile); because this is part of being righteous (birr) and acting kindly (ihsan) toward them. Allah the Almighty has encouraged us to do that through His saying:

لا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ [الممتحنة:٨]

“Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” [Al-Mumtahanah: 8]

فالله تعالى يحب المقسطين، أي المنصفين الذين ينصفون الناس، ويعطونهم الحق والعدل من أنفسهم، فيبرون من برهم، ويحسنون إلى من أحسن إليهم، فهذه صفة المسلم مع الناس جميعًا،أن يكافأ الإحسان بالإحسان وزيادة، لا سيما إذا كان المحسن إليه جارًا أو قريبًا.

Thus, Allah the Almighty loves those who act justly, meaning those who are fair and give people their rights and justice from themselves, so they are kind to those who are kind to them, and do good to those who do good to them. This is the characteristic of a Muslim with all people: to reward kindness with kindness or even more, especially if the recipient of the kindness is a neighbor or a relative.

ومما يروى عن عبد الله بن عمرو أنه كان يوصي غلامه، ويؤكد عليه أن لا ينسى جاره اليهودي من ذبيحة ذبحها، فلما سأله الغلام عن سر اهتمامه بهذا الأمر، قال: إني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، يقول:

And among what is narrated from Abdullah bin Amr is that he used to instruct his servant and emphasize to him not to forget his Jewish neighbor from the meat of a sacrifice he had slaughtered. When the servant asked him about the reason for his concern regarding this matter, he said: “Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:”

“ما زال جبريل يوصيني بالجار حتى ظننت أنه سيورثه.” رواه أبو داود.

“Jibril continued to advise me concerning the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood).

واسم الجار يشمل المسلم والكافر والعابد والفاسق، وفي هذا يقول الله تعالى: (وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ) [النساء:٣٦]. أي البعيد في النسب أو في الدين أو في الدار.

The term “neighbor” includes the Muslim, the non-believer, the devout, and the transgressor. Regarding this, Allah the Almighty says: “(And be good to) the neighbor who is a relative and the neighbor who is a stranger.” [An-Nisa: 36]. Meaning distant in lineage, religion, or residence.

يقول الإمام القرطبي في تفسير الآية السابقة: وعلى هذا فالوصاة بالجار مأمور بها مندوب إليها مسلماً كان أو كافراً، وهو الصحيح، والإحسان قد يكون بمعنى المواساة، وقد يكون بمعنى حسن العشرة وكف الأذى والمحاماة. انتهى ٥/١٧١

Imam Al-Qurtubi said in the interpretation of the previous verse: “Based on this, the instruction concerning the neighbor is commanded and recommended, whether he is a Muslim or a non-believer, and this is the correct view. Kindness (ihsan) may mean consolation/support (muwasah), and it may mean good companionship (husnul ‘isyrah), refraining from harm, and providing protection.” (End 5/171).

والله أعلم.

Source: IslamWeb