The Ruling on Answering Religious Questions That Arise in Gatherings
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In gatherings, sometimes a person asks about topics that may be simple, but fearing that answering them will lead to discussions and debates in the gathering about matters of religion, and that ignorant people may speak and err in many things, should we remain silent about this?
First, he asks, saying: If we are in a gathering and questions directed to a student of knowledge are numerous, is it obligatory for him to answer every question? Is this your question?The questioner: Or anyone in a gathering or meeting.
The Shaykh: It is not permissible for you to seek a fatwa except from one whom you believe to be qualified for issuing fatwas; because this is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from.
Anyone who takes the lead among the common people, and then the common person speaks, thinking he is an ocean of knowledge, though he does not know it. But do not assume, and do not seek a fatwa, especially in our time when everyone issues fatwas, except from one in whose knowledge and religion you trust.
The questioner: Meaning, he does not answer simple questions.
The Shaykh: Are you asking whether the scholar answers or does not answer?Or are you asking about the questioner: Does he ask or does he not ask?The Shaykh: I do not know if you are a scholar or not.
The questioner: The one asking me, should I say: "Ask so-and-so the scholar," or what?The Shaykh: It is permissible to refer the question to another person.
The questioner: Even if I know the answer?The Shaykh: Even if you know it, especially if you fear fitnah (trial) for yourself; because a fatwa is truly like magic. If a person issues a fatwa and continues to do so, he never comes down from it. So it truly takes hold of a person's mind. If you fear fitnah, say: "Ask so-and-so."
The questioner: And the verse [Al-Nisa: 37] ?The Shaykh: Yes, [Al-Nisa: 37] but you did not withhold, you directed him to one who is more trustworthy than you in knowledge and more knowledgeable than you, and this is not withholding. For this reason, the righteous Salaf would decline giving fatwas,He says: saying: "Go to so-and-so, go to so-and-so."
First, he asks, saying: If we are in a gathering and questions directed to a student of knowledge are numerous, is it obligatory for him to answer every question? Is this your question?The questioner: Or anyone in a gathering or meeting.
The Shaykh: It is not permissible for you to seek a fatwa except from one whom you believe to be qualified for issuing fatwas; because this is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from.
Anyone who takes the lead among the common people, and then the common person speaks, thinking he is an ocean of knowledge, though he does not know it. But do not assume, and do not seek a fatwa, especially in our time when everyone issues fatwas, except from one in whose knowledge and religion you trust.
The questioner: Meaning, he does not answer simple questions.
The Shaykh: Are you asking whether the scholar answers or does not answer?Or are you asking about the questioner: Does he ask or does he not ask?The Shaykh: I do not know if you are a scholar or not.
The questioner: The one asking me, should I say: "Ask so-and-so the scholar," or what?The Shaykh: It is permissible to refer the question to another person.
The questioner: Even if I know the answer?The Shaykh: Even if you know it, especially if you fear fitnah (trial) for yourself; because a fatwa is truly like magic. If a person issues a fatwa and continues to do so, he never comes down from it. So it truly takes hold of a person's mind. If you fear fitnah, say: "Ask so-and-so."
The questioner: And the verse