The Ruling on Holding Parties for the Dead, Forty Days after the Death

Question :

The Muslims here (i.e. in America) have become accustomed to imitating the Christians and Jews by holding a religious party on the occasion of the passing of forty days after death. Is this in accordance with the Islamic law? And is there any evidence to allow it?

Answer:

It has not been confirmed from the Prophet, nor from his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, nor from the righteous Salaf, that they held a party for the dead at all, neither immediately following his demise, nor after a week, nor forty days, nor a year after his death.

In fact, this is an innovation and an ugly custom, which used to be practiced by the Egyptians of old and others among the disbelievers. The Muslims who hold these parties must be advised against them and they must be rejected. Perhaps they will turn to Allah in repentance and avoid them, because of their innovatory nature in religious matters and the imitation of the disbelievers they include.

It has been authentically proved that the Prophet said:
*I was sent with the sword before the Hour, until Allah is worshipped Alone and without partners; and my sustenance has been placed under the shadow of my spear and humiliation and disparagement has been prepared for those who reject my commands, and whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.
Al-Hakim narrates, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said:

The ways of those before you will be pursued, finger joint by finger joint and arm by arm, so much so that, were one of them to enter the hole of a lizard, you would enter it (also).

The essence of this is to be found in the Two Sahihs in the Hadith of Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri.

Source:
Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1 Pages 256-257