Can Muslims visit a Jewish family sitting shiva?

What shiva is

Shiva (from the Hebrew word for "seven") is the week of mourning after a Jewish funeral. Close family stay at home, often sitting on low chairs, while friends drop by to comfort them, bring food and share memories. Mirrors may be covered, and a prayer service (minyan) is sometimes held in the evening, including the mourner's prayer called Kaddish.

Why Islam encourages the visit

The Prophet ﷺ showed concern for Jewish neighbours in sickness and death. He visited a sick Jewish boy who used to serve him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1356). When a funeral procession passed and someone said it was a Jew's, he stood up and said, "Is it not a soul?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1312). The Quran also allows warmth and fairness toward peaceful people of other faiths:

What you can do

• Offer comfort. Simple words like "I'm so sorry for your loss" or sharing a good memory of the person mean a lot.
• Sit quietly and listen. Traditionally, visitors let the mourners speak first.
• Bring food. Many families keep kosher, so choose sealed food from a kosher shop, or a fruit basket. Flowers aren't traditional at shiva. See Can Muslims eat kosher food?
• Dress modestly and keep the visit fairly short.

What to avoid

If a prayer service starts, you can stay respectfully seated or step aside, but don't recite Kaddish or join the worship. You also shouldn't make the Islamic funeral prayer (janazah) for a non-Muslim. Making a private dua for the family's comfort and wellbeing is fine. See Can I pray for my non-Muslim mother after she dies?

Many converts face this with their own relatives too. See Can I attend my non-Muslim grandma's funeral as a Muslim?