WE RELATE FROM the books of at-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah from Ḥudhayfah 
, who said: “When I pass away, do not announce my death to anyone, for I fear that it will be a [public] announcement. I heard the Messenger of Allah 
forbid anyone to announce a death [publicly].” [1].At-Tirmidhī classed this hadith as ḥasan.
, who said: “When I pass away, do not announce my death to anyone, for I fear that it will be a [public] announcement. I heard the Messenger of Allah forbid anyone to announce a death [publicly].” [1].At-Tirmidhī classed this hadith as ḥasan.We relate in the book of at-Tirmidhī from ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd , who reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Beware of announcing deaths, for announcing deaths is one of the acts of the days before Islam.” [2].Respecting a narration from ‘Abdullāh which he did not describe as marfū‘, at-Tirmidhī said that it is more ṣaḥīḥ than the marfū‘, but at-Tirmidhī considered both narrations weak.
, who reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Beware of announcing deaths, for announcing deaths is one of the acts of the days before Islam.” [2].Respecting a narration from ‘Abdullāh which he did not describe as marfū‘, at-Tirmidhī said that it is more ṣaḥīḥ than the marfū‘, but at-Tirmidhī considered both narrations weak.We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥayn that the Messenger of Allah announced the death of an-Najāshī publicly to his Companions. [3].
announced the death of an-Najāshī publicly to his Companions. [3].We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥayn that the Prophet said about a deceased person who was buried at night without it being made known: “Why did you not inform me about him [being buried at night]?” [4].
said about a deceased person who was buried at night without it being made known: “Why did you not inform me about him [being buried at night]?” [4].According to the erudite ‘ulamā’ and the majority of our [Shāfi‘ī] colleagues and others, it is mustaḥabb to inform the family, relatives and friends of the deceased [of his death], according to these two hadiths. They say that what is prohibited is to make the announcement in the manner of the days before Islam. The custom was to send a rider to the tribes when one of their noblemen passed away, saying: “We announce the death of so-and-so; we announce the death of the Arabs”, that is, “The Arabs have perished because of the death of so-and-so”. This announcement was accompanied by shouting and weeping.
The author of al-Ḥāwī, one of our colleagues, mentions two views as to whether it is mustaḥabb to announce the death of a person and to inform people with a call or formal announcement. Some consider this mustaḥabb for acquaintances as well as strangers, so that many people may pray and make du‘ā’ for them. Others have said it is mustaḥabb only for strangers and not for others.
In my view, it is absolutely recommended, provided it is only an announcement.
References
[1] At-Tirmidhī (986) and Ibn Mājah (1476).
[2] At-Tirmidhī (984). Ibn Ḥajar verified that the mawqūf and marfū‘ narrations of this hadith are weak. Most scholars are of the view that informing others of the death of a person is permissible, on the basis of the hadith in al-Bukhārī and Muslim, which is mentioned below by the author.
[3] Al-Bukhārī (1333), Muslim (951), Abū Dāwūd (3204), at-Tirmidhī (1022), an-Nasā’ī (4/72), and al-Muwaṭṭa’ (1/226–227).
[4] Al-Bukhārī (1337) and Muslim (956).