From Whom a Fatwa Is Taken and the Conditions for Issuing Fatwas

Question:
The questioner, Mahir, says: Honorable Shaykh, from whom is a fatwa taken, and who is the one who issues fatwas? Are there conditions for issuing fatwas?

Answer:
A fatwa is first taken from the competent authorities to whom the issuance of fatwas has been delegated and whom the Muslim ruler has appointed for this purpose. After that, it is taken from any scholar who is knowledgeable, rigorous, and mindful of Allah the Exalted and Mighty. Allah the Exalted said: Therefore, general matters, which are called momentous, must be referred to the competent fatwa authorities, such as the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta. As for personal matters specific to an individual, such as his prayer, ritual purity, and urgent needs, he should seek a fatwa from someone he trusts in his knowledge and religion; he trusts in his knowledge and religion, then asks him and acts on what he informs him of. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.