The Ruling on Issuing Fatwas by Those Who Are Not Scholars

Question:
Abu Faisal from Riyadh says: Some of the common people ask him for a ruling in the gathering; they ask him about a legal ruling, and then he rushes to give you a fatwa (scholarly legal ruling), saying, "I heard," or "It appears that this is its ruling," or "They said so and so."

Answer:
Allah (Exalted and Majestic) said: the people of knowledge, and they are the scholars. Therefore, it is not permissible to ask the common people, and it is not permissible for anyone to say, "I heard so-and-so give a fatwa (scholarly legal ruling) on such-and-such." Perhaps the fatwa (scholarly legal ruling) is not correct, or perhaps he did not understand the fatwa (scholarly legal ruling). Therefore, it is not permissible for him to issue a fatwa (scholarly legal ruling); he should refer the matter to the people of knowledge. Yes.