The Ruling on Fatwas Published in Arabic and Non-Arabic Magazines and Newspapers
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Praise be to Allah,And blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah: There are newspapers published in English that leave space for fatwas, and the identity of the mufti is not known,And all that is there is that it is said: only the editor-in-chief of the Islamic page, and one reads astonishing things in these fatwas,And the last of them, when one of them was asked: such as whether there is a physical participation of Satan during intercourse, and he denied that categorically with his intellect,And he said: saying that this is one of the superstitions,Then also: denying that 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was of this age at the time of her early marriage,Rather, he said: claiming that her age was not known and they did not know their ages in that era, and stating explicitly that her age must have been between (16) and (18), and within this fatwa one reads many attempts to justify what the West distorts or raises doubts about regarding this topic. In fact, these have become numerous and are distributed widely. So please, may the Shaykh (may Allah preserve him) give a kind word regarding these two matters specifically?
It is not permissible to rely on fatwas published in newspapers, whether in Arabic or in other languages. Fatwas are issued in Urdu and in English, as the brother said, so one should not rely on fatwas published in newspapers or magazines, whether in Arabic or other languages, unless we know that they were issued by a known scholar who is trusted in his knowledge and his religion. Because, unfortunately, today those who are not qualified for it are taking the lead in issuing fatwas, saying things without knowledge, or merely according to their desires. I do not say merely according to their intellect; because intellect dictates that matters be entrusted to those who are qualified for them,And who issues fatwas to the people: [Al-Nisa: 176] The fatwa is from Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or from scholars who are trusted in their creed, in their knowledge, and in their trustworthiness, and are well-known. Do not be negligent in your religion,Acting upon the fatwa means: a religion by which a person draws near to Allah. If a person does not take medicine to treat himself unless it is prescribed by a skilled and trustworthy doctor, how can he take a fatwa from a person whose identity he does not know, who may be deviant in his creed or in his behavior, or lost, having no knowledge at all, stumbling in the dark.
So my advice to every believer who wants to preserve his religion is not to take it except from one he trusts: not to take any fatwa in newspapers or magazines, unless it is issued by a person who is trusted in his creed, in his knowledge, and in his religion.
Also: It is necessary that the one who presents fatwas in this newspaper or magazine be known; because sometimes fatwas are written and attributed to Zayd or 'Amr among the people, though he did not say them. But these journalists, when they see a scholar among the scholars whom people follow and take his words, they smear him with any fatwa they issue. And this is also necessary,Therefore: two things are necessary: the first: trust in the newspaper or magazine.
The second: Trust in the mufti -What we say: the scholar may be ignorant - such that he is among the scholars known for their creed, their knowledge, and their religion.
And we are not now taking fatwas in matters of religion, buying and selling, trade, and pledging,Until we say: what is not permissible today may be permissible tomorrow. We are taking a religion by which we are accountable to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), making it a path to Paradise, so we must know this.
Therefore, it is obligatory that we preserve our religion, and not take it except from those who are qualified for it,Some of the Salaf said: [Indeed, this knowledge is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from] .
The questioner: His fatwa, O Shaykh, regarding 'Aishah?The Shaykh: Everything he transmitted from the fatwas is wrong, and it is well-known, if not mass-transmitted, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) married 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) when she was young.
And I told you now, and I say it: These rationalists did not follow their intellects either; intellect dictates that we not take fatwas except from one who is qualified for fatwa, and the fatwa is from Allah and His Messenger, not from just anyone.
It is not permissible to rely on fatwas published in newspapers, whether in Arabic or in other languages. Fatwas are issued in Urdu and in English, as the brother said, so one should not rely on fatwas published in newspapers or magazines, whether in Arabic or other languages, unless we know that they were issued by a known scholar who is trusted in his knowledge and his religion. Because, unfortunately, today those who are not qualified for it are taking the lead in issuing fatwas, saying things without knowledge, or merely according to their desires. I do not say merely according to their intellect; because intellect dictates that matters be entrusted to those who are qualified for them,And who issues fatwas to the people:
They request from you a [legal] ruling. Say, "Allah gives you
يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْSo my advice to every believer who wants to preserve his religion is not to take it except from one he trusts: not to take any fatwa in newspapers or magazines, unless it is issued by a person who is trusted in his creed, in his knowledge, and in his religion.
Also: It is necessary that the one who presents fatwas in this newspaper or magazine be known; because sometimes fatwas are written and attributed to Zayd or 'Amr among the people, though he did not say them. But these journalists, when they see a scholar among the scholars whom people follow and take his words, they smear him with any fatwa they issue. And this is also necessary,Therefore: two things are necessary: the first: trust in the newspaper or magazine.
The second: Trust in the mufti -What we say: the scholar may be ignorant - such that he is among the scholars known for their creed, their knowledge, and their religion.
And we are not now taking fatwas in matters of religion, buying and selling, trade, and pledging,Until we say: what is not permissible today may be permissible tomorrow. We are taking a religion by which we are accountable to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), making it a path to Paradise, so we must know this.
Therefore, it is obligatory that we preserve our religion, and not take it except from those who are qualified for it,Some of the Salaf said: [Indeed, this knowledge is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from] .
The questioner: His fatwa, O Shaykh, regarding 'Aishah?The Shaykh: Everything he transmitted from the fatwas is wrong, and it is well-known, if not mass-transmitted, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) married 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) when she was young.
And I told you now, and I say it: These rationalists did not follow their intellects either; intellect dictates that we not take fatwas except from one who is qualified for fatwa, and the fatwa is from Allah and His Messenger, not from just anyone.