What is the ruling of broadcasting obituary using loudspeakers installed in mosques? And what is the ruling of serving foods and drinks to those who come to a house where people can pay condolences to the family of the dead?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Your question consists of two parts.

Related to the first part, the Muslim scholars have many details related to this issue.

The majority of scholars who belong to Hanafi, Malik, and Shafi’i schools agreed that it is not allowed to broadcast obituary loudly using loudspeakers as this action is similar to what was done by people in the pre-Islamic era who used to send guys to announce the death of somebody accompanied with loud cries. For example, when an honorable and noble man died, they used to send one, riding an animal (camel / horse), to reach different tribes to declare the death of that man mentioning his good characteristics, and even more than that, they used to mention good things about him which could be fake. Hudhaifa RAA narrated that the prophet used to prohibit the announcement of anyone’s death. Thus, the Muslim scholars consider announcing the death of somebody using loudspeakers similar to what was done in the pre-Islamic era as this action is done to some people, those who belonged to the upper class) not to all people and so it is considered like wailing.

Al-Sa’nani thinks that declaring the death of somebody should be prohibited whether they use loudspeakers or announcing it or from the above of a minaret as it used to be when a great person died.

However, if it is meant to announce the death of somebody without using loudspeakers and not from the above of a minaret, it is accepted because the purpose of such a deed is to call Muslims to perform the funeral prayer.

Abu Hurairah said that the prophet declared the death of Negus and performed with his companions the funeral prayer.

Al-Nawawi, however, liked the idea of declaring the death of somebody to have more Muslims to perform the funeral prayer but without following the tradition of people who lived in the pre-Islamic era.  

The other part of your question:

Concerning serving foods, if foods are served to the family of the dead, it is preferred. It is narrated that the prophet (PBUH) said, when his cousin Ja’far ibn Abi Talib was killed: “Prepare some food for the family of Ja’far, for indeed something has happened to them that will keep them busy. Tirmidhi

In contrast, if food is served from the family of the dead to those who come to pay condolences, it is considered prohibited and an innovated practice.

Moreover, righteous ancestors used to consider serving food from the family of the dead to those who come to condole similar to wailing which is prohibited by the prophet (PBUH) regardless of the time. He said: “If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected.” Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim