The ruling on transmitting a fatwa (scholarly legal ruling) to one who is not a scholar

Question:
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The questioner says: If a person asks me about a fatwa or a ruling, and I know the answer, is it permissible for me to say, "I do not know," out of fear of issuing a fatwa?

Answer:
If there are scholars available, he should contact them and ask them, even by telephone or mobile phone. You should refer the matter to the scholars and not answer it yourself, as long as you are not a scholar but merely a transmitter. Do not answer, because you may misunderstand, and the fatwa may be incorrect if you do not transmit it accurately, for you do not know, since you cannot distinguish between error and truth. You might transmit an error or make a mistake in the transmission. As long as there are scholars, praise be to Allah, refer the matter to them. If they are in the country, go to them; if they are outside the country, contact them.