What is the meaning of the muftis' saying, "It is not befitting to do such-and-such" or "It is befitting to do such-and-such"?

Question:
The last questioner says: Some muftis say, "It is not befitting to do such-and-such," or "It is befitting to do such-and-such." What is the meaning of this phrase?

Answer:
A mufti may be lenient with this phrase, saying "it is not befitting" when he means it is disliked or not good, or he may intend prohibition, meaning "it is not permissible." However, in the custom of people today, it is often used leniently for a disliked thing, meaning it is not good to do it, or for a recommended thing, meaning it is good to do it, without rising to the level of obligation or prohibition. This is what appears from the behavior of many scholars of our time, and I am among them; I may sometimes say "it is not befitting to do such-and-such" or "it is befitting to do such-and-such," and I do not intend by "it is not befitting" that it is forbidden, nor do I intend by "it is befitting" that it is obligatory. But this may slip from my tongue at times because it is not good to do it or it is better to leave it, and "it is befitting to do such-and-such" means it is good to do it, and it is better to do it. These are words in which one must be cautious and careful, because the status of "it is not befitting" is great in the speech of Allah and the speech of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), , so what is befitting has a status in the speech of Allah. But in the custom of people now, they may be lenient with it, and these words may be applied to a disliked thing—"it is not befitting"—and to a recommended thing, which is befitting to do, meaning it is good to do it and it is better to do it. Therefore, being precise with these two words is very important, and their meaning should not be taken from people's speech as the meaning stated by Allah and His Messenger, but one must verify and examine the one who used them.