Ruling Without Knowledge
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The fifth question of Fatwa number (8097)
Q 5: I am sometimes asked religious questions, and when I am not sure of the answer, I say: "I believe the answer is such and such." Is it permissible to answer in the manner I described?
A 5: Praise be to Allah alone, and blessings and peace be upon His Messenger, his family, and his Companions. After that: It is not permissible for a Muslim to issue a fatwa without knowledge; because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Isra 17:36] , and His saying:
[Al-A'raf 7:33] . Accordingly, it is obligatory for you, if you are asked questions and you are not certain of the correctness of the answer, to say: "Allah knows best," or: "I do not know." In this lies safety for your religion, your honor, and adherence to Islamic etiquette. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 5: I am sometimes asked religious questions, and when I am not sure of the answer, I say: "I believe the answer is such and such." Is it permissible to answer in the manner I described?
A 5: Praise be to Allah alone, and blessings and peace be upon His Messenger, his family, and his Companions. After that: It is not permissible for a Muslim to issue a fatwa without knowledge; because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge
وَلاَ تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌSay, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَـزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.