Fathwa - Paying condolences; the wisdom and the permissible period

Question
Is there any evidence in the Quran or Sunnah confining the
condolenceperiod to three days or is it just a habit?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His Slave and Messenger.
We do not know any evidence from the Quran or Sunnah that determine
the period of offering condolences. However, the majority of scholars
confined it to three days. However,Sufyaan Ath-Thawriand ImaamAbu
Haneefahchose the opinion to not offer condolence after the burial.
The scholars concluded this ruling from the Hadeeth "It is not
permissible for a woman who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to
mourn for any deceased person for more than three days except for her
husband; she must mourn for him for four months and ten
)days(."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
They disliked offering condolence for more than three days unless
hewas not present. Hence, the wisdom behind offering condolence is to
cause the heart of the afflicted one to be tranquil. It most likely
becomes tranquil after three days of the affliction. Therefore, it is
not recommended to renew his grief.
However, if the one who offers the condolence or the afflicted one did
not meet, it is permissible to offer the condolence whenever they meet
as there are other benefits like supplicating for him that is
permissible in all times. Among the scholars who adopted this
opinion:An-Nawawiin his bookAl-Muhaththab,An-Nafraawiin his
bookAl-Fawaakih Ad-DawaaniandIbn Muflihin his bookAl-Furoo'.
Some jurists did not set any limit to the period of offering
condolence.Ibn Muflihin his book Al-Furoo' ascribed this opinion to
some Hanbali scholars, andAn-Nawawinarrated that it is an opinion of
Al-Juwayni according to the Shaafi'i doctrine.
Allaah Knows best.