The Difference Between the Scholar and the Mufti
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His Eminence the Shaykh: What is the difference between a scholar and a mufti?
The scholar is the one who possesses knowledge. Some scholars issue fatwas, while others are scrupulous and do not issue fatwas.He says: Man is weak.
And the mufti is the one who issues fatwas even without knowledge; for among people are those who put themselves forward for issuing fatwas while they do not know the difference between the wrist and the elbow. Do you know the difference between your wrist and your elbow?There are verses in it:
The bone next to the thumb is the wrist, and the one next to the little finger is the elbow, and the middle is the forearm.
And the bone next to the thumb of the foot is called the ankle. So take hold of knowledge and beware of error.
Now, the hand at the end of the arm has three sides: The side next to the thumb is the wrist, the side next to the little finger is the elbow, and the middle is the forearm. As for this—Meaning: the joint between the upper arm and the forearm—It is called the elbow. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 6] .
Interjection: Among the common people, it is called the elbow.
O Shaykh.
The Shaykh: The common people are not an authority.
The scholar is the one who possesses knowledge. Some scholars issue fatwas, while others are scrupulous and do not issue fatwas.He says: Man is weak.
And the mufti is the one who issues fatwas even without knowledge; for among people are those who put themselves forward for issuing fatwas while they do not know the difference between the wrist and the elbow. Do you know the difference between your wrist and your elbow?There are verses in it:
The bone next to the thumb is the wrist, and the one next to the little finger is the elbow, and the middle is the forearm.
And the bone next to the thumb of the foot is called the ankle. So take hold of knowledge and beware of error.
Now, the hand at the end of the arm has three sides: The side next to the thumb is the wrist, the side next to the little finger is the elbow, and the middle is the forearm. As for this—Meaning: the joint between the upper arm and the forearm—It is called the elbow. Allah the Exalted said:
and your forearms to the elbows
وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِInterjection: Among the common people, it is called the elbow.
O Shaykh.
The Shaykh: The common people are not an authority.