Question Summary:
Is it permissible to cook food at the home of the deceased?

Question Detail:

Why are we not allowed to cook food when someone has passed away at home?
We are told by our elders to wait for the janaza to be buried then we can cook food at home.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There is no prohibition in Shari’ah for cooking food at home when someone has passed away until the deceased is buried. It is permissible to cook food before the burial of the deceased person.
However, Shari’ah has considered the grief of the bereaved family and advised others to cook for them and send food for the bereaving family.
Consider the following Hadith,
عَنْ جَدَّتِهَا أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ عُمَيْسٍ، قَالَتْ: لَمَّا أُصِيبَ جَعْفَرٌ رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ آلَ جَعْفَرٍ قَدْ شُغِلُوا بِشَأْنِ مَيِّتِهِمْ، فَاصْنَعُوا لَهُمْ طَعَامًا» (سنن ابن ماجه)
 “When Ja’far(Radiallahu Anhu) was killed, the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam went to his family and said: ‘The family of Ja’far are busy with the matter of their deceased, so prepare food for them.’ (Ibn Majah 1611)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Arshad Ali
Student Darul Iftaa
Trinidad
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
http://www.daruliftaa.net/