بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Holding a repast for visitors opposes the Sunnah and (oppressively and unnecessarily) busies the family of the deceased. However the Sunnah is to prepare and provide food for the family of the deceased (and not them preparing a banquet for friends of the family) due to what is reported by Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and others upon the authority of Abdullah ibn Jafar concerning the news of jafar’s death (as he was killed). On this occasion the Prophet -Sallahu alayhi wa salaam- said, “prepare food for the family of Jafar for indeed it has come to them that which (is a source of) disturbance for them.”
Ibnul Qayyim said, “From the guidance of the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa salaam- is that the family of one deceased is not burden with feeding people, on the contrary the people are commanded to prepare and send food to them and this is from the greatest (forms) of noble character and it brings relief to the family of the deceased. And surely they are in a state of grief as a result of what has befallen them, for them to be able to feed people.
Translated by Najeeb Al Anjelesi
Source: المنظار في كثير من الأخطاء الشائعة