The ruling on a student of knowledge issuing fatwas while other scholars are present

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. You mentioned (may Allah preserve you) that it is better for a scholar to be scrupulous about issuing fatwas when others are available. My question is that I am a graduate of the College of Shari'ah and I have a grasp of many rulings, especially in matters of worship. When some people ask me, I do not issue a fatwa for them but send them to the senior scholars. However, one of my colleagues keeps telling me that I must issue fatwas for them to the best of my ability, and he reminds me of the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) . I ask for your guidance on this matter (may Allah preserve you)?

The Shaykh:
The one after the adhan.

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. You mentioned that it is better for a scholar to be scrupulous about issuing fatwas when others are available. My question is that I am a graduate of the College of Shari'ah and I have a grasp of many rulings, especially in matters of worship. When some people ask me, I do not issue a fatwa for them but send them to the senior scholars. However, one of my colleagues keeps telling me that I must issue fatwas for them to the best of my ability, and he reminds me of the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) . I ask for your guidance on this matter, may Allah grant you success?

The Shaykh:
His saying "it is obligatory" is a mistake. It is not obligatory as long as there is someone else, and referring them to him is permissible. It is not obligatory for him to issue a fatwa, because they do not need you as long as there is someone else. So his saying that it is obligatory for you is a mistake. But it is permissible, it is permissible. And as for , his citing this as evidence is also out of place, because the intent is when someone is asked about knowledge and there is no one there, no one to explain it. If you do not explain it to him, he remains in error. That is what is forbidden. But if there is someone else who can explain it to him, you have not written down the knowledge, you have not concealed it, but you referred him to someone better than you, or someone who can bear the risk of error for you. This is being cautious, and that is a good thing. Being cautious is a good thing. You would only sin if there were no one to issue a fatwa for him, and he would remain in his ignorance and error. In that case, it is obligatory for you to issue a fatwa for him with the knowledge you have. Yes.