Some people take on the task of issuing fatwas without having the religious knowledge that qualifies them for it. What is your advice for such people?
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The questioner : Some people take on the task of issuing fatwas without having the religious knowledge that qualifies them for it. What is your advice for such people? May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : My advice to these people is to read the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:33] and the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Isra 17:36] and His saying the Exalted: [Al-An'am 6:144] So, anyone who issues a fatwa without knowledge is an oppressor, an oppressor to himself and an oppressor to his brothers, and he will not be guided to the truth because Allah said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:51] So, these people should fear Allah regarding themselves and fear Allah regarding their brothers, and they should not be hasty. If Allah wills good for them, He will inspire them with guidance, provide them with knowledge, and they will become imams to be followed in issuing fatwas. So, let them wait and be patient. As for those who seek fatwas, we warn them against seeking fatwas from such people. We say: The scholars whose knowledge and trustworthiness are reliable are, praise be to Allah, present either in their own countries or in another country where they can contact them by telephone, and the objective will be achieved, if Allah wills.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : My advice to these people is to read the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَAnd do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.
وَلا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًاThen who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah to mislead the people by [something] other than knowledge? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا لِيُضِلَّ النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَIndeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.