A man, ten years ago, ordered his breastfeeding wife to break her fast in Ramadan due to the excuse of breastfeeding, and he told her

The questioner : He says: "O esteemed Shaykh, a man, ten years ago, ordered his breastfeeding wife to break her fast in Ramadan due to the excuse of breastfeeding. He told her: 'You only have to feed [the poor], and I will feed on your behalf. Some scholars issued a ruling for me to this effect.' In this current year, he learned that she is required to make up the fasts and feed [the poor]. The question is: What is your opinion on this, O esteemed Shaykh?"

The Shaykh : My opinion on this is that he owes nothing, as long as his husband consulted some scholars and they said that she only has to feed [the poor], then he owes nothing. She owes nothing. However, the correct view is that she is required to make up the fasts; she is required to make up the fasts, due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted: . As for what has passed, and she acted upon the ruling that her husband conveyed, she owes nothing. And so it is with every issue, every issue that a layperson asks about. And so it is with every issue that a layperson asks about, from one he believes to be a scholar, who then issues a ruling contrary to the truth; he owes nothing. But on the condition that he knows that this person consulted is qualified to issue rulings. Not everyone who wears the thawb, lets his beard grow, and is strict in his adherence is a scholar; he may be ignorant. But if it is known from his being a famous man, or from the fact that people consult him, that he is qualified to issue rulings, and he issues a ruling for him, even if it is contrary to the truth, then the one who consulted owes nothing. Yes.