The Difference of Fatwas Among Scholars and the Way Out of It

Question:
This questioner is seeking relief from the multitude of opinions on a single issue, as he says: The Committee of Senior Scholars has attempted to unify the fatwa, but we find differences among the fatwas. What is the solution and the way out?

Answer:
This has been the case since ancient times, my son. It dates back to the era of the Companions, where fatwas differed. Each had his own understanding of certain issues that were ambiguous to them. This one understood it one way, and that one understood it another. 'Umar would issue a fatwa on such-and-such, and 'Ali would issue a fatwa on such-and-such, and so-and-so would issue a fatwa on such-and-such. These are few issues in which scholars differ. And so it was with the Tabi'un, and so it was with the four—Abu Bakr, Abu Hanifah, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Ahmad. They were the great scholars, and there were issues in which they differed, may Allah have mercy on them. And so it has been from after them until our day. Yes, this is not strange. But the student of knowledge should seek the truth and ask the one he believes to be more knowledgeable about the issues that are obscure to him. He should exert effort through correspondence, by telephone, or in person; he asks and seeks the truth. And disagreement is inevitable from the era of the Companions until our day. Yes, issues arise that are ambiguous to people, and their understanding of them differs.