Serving food as Sadaqah on the occasion of someone's death

A: It is not permissible for the family of the deceased to prepare food whether the cost for preparing it is paid by the heirs or from the deceased's one-third of the wealth which he leaves behind or by some volunteer, as this contradicts the Prophet's (peace be upon him) line of conduct. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy and Ibn Majah narrated a Hadith with an authentic Isnad (chain of narrators) on the authority of `Abdullah Ibn Ja`far who said: When the news of the death of Ja`far reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), he said: 'Prepare food for the family of Ja'far for there has come upon them an incident which has engaged them.' (Part No. 9; Page No. 150) It is also narrated on the authority of `Abdullah Ibn Abu Bakr who said: 'We continued to abide by this act of the Sunnah (preparing food for bereaved families) until a time came when some people started to give it up.' Ahmad narrated a Hadith with a good Isnad on the authority of Jarir Ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajaly (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: We used to consider sitting with the family of the deceased and making food for mourners after the burial as a sort of wailing. It is an act of Bid`ah (innovation in religion) to specify a certain period of four or five days after which the food is prepared.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.