Condolence Is a Practice of the Prophet (saws)

Umm Salamah (radi Allahu anha) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) visited Abu Salamah (radi Allahu anhu) when his eyes were open soon after he died. He closed them (the eyes) for him and said, “When the soul is taken away, the sight follows it.” Some members of his family began to weep. He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for the angels say ‘amin’ to what you say.” Then he (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “O Allah! Forgive Abu Salamah, raise his rank among those who are rightly-guided and grant him a successor from his descendants who remain behind. Grant him pardon and us, too. O Rubb of the worlds. Make his grave spacious for him and give him light in it.”

[Muslim]

Explanation: We benefit from the above hadith that when the soul leaves the body, the eyes remain open as if gazing at it. So, the eyes of the dead body should be closed.

Secondly, one should avoid uttering any ill speech on such occasions as the angels, present on the occasion, say ‘Amin’ to it.

Thirdly, the Prophet’s example requires the pious persons to visit a bereaved family. Consoling them, they should invoke supplication and blessing for the departed soul. Besides that, they should pray to Allah to bless the bereaved with both spiritual and material gains and multiple goodness. Supplication, as other Ahadith also tell us, is beneficial to the dead person. Condolence and supplication is undoubtedly a confirmed practice of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). We are supposed to follow only what the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did on such occasions, that is to say, to pray for both the departed soul and the bereaved family.