A colleague of ours at work issues fatwas on every small and large matter, so tell us about the danger of issuing fatwas without knowledge?
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The questioner : We have a colleague who issues fatwas to his colleagues at work on every small and large matter, and we know the danger of issuing fatwas without knowledge, so tell us about the danger of that, may you be rewarded?
The Shaykh : Yes. The mufti in matters of the Shari'ah is a representative of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), a representative of the religion of Allah, so it is not permissible for anyone to issue a fatwa without knowledge, for that is among the major sins. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:[Al-A'raf 7:33] And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:36] And He the Exalted said: [An-Nahl 16:116-117] And whoever issues a fatwa without knowledge has placed himself as a partner with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in legislating rulings.
So my advice to this one who has appointed himself a mufti in every small and large matter is that he should repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and that he should not issue a fatwa except with what he knows to be from the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or what he is convinced is from the Shari'ah of Allah after complete ijtihad.
And some people have made issuing fatwas a profession, by which they elevate themselves above those to whom they issued fatwas and show people that they possess knowledge. This is an error, foolishness in intellect and misguidance in religion. Indeed, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said in His Book:[Al-Mujadila 58:11] And He did not say: "and those who issue fatwas." So a person must know his own standing, entrust the matter to those qualified for it, seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and remember the warning for whoever says about Allah what he does not know. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims. A message from Algeria, the brother Kahlawi Ahmad says: Question, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes. The mufti in matters of the Shari'ah is a representative of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), a representative of the religion of Allah, so it is not permissible for anyone to issue a fatwa without knowledge, for that is among the major sins. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:
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 مَسْؤولًا(116) And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, "This is lawful and this is unlawful," to invent falsehood about Allah. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed. (117) [It is but] a brief enjoyment, and they will have a painful punishment.
وَلا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَذَا حَلالٌ وَهَذَا حَرَامٌ لِتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لا يُفْلِحُونَ * مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ولهم عَذَابٌ أليمSo my advice to this one who has appointed himself a mufti in every small and large matter is that he should repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and that he should not issue a fatwa except with what he knows to be from the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or what he is convinced is from the Shari'ah of Allah after complete ijtihad.
And some people have made issuing fatwas a profession, by which they elevate themselves above those to whom they issued fatwas and show people that they possess knowledge. This is an error, foolishness in intellect and misguidance in religion. Indeed, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said in His Book:
Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍThe questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims. A message from Algeria, the brother Kahlawi Ahmad says: Question, O honorable Shaykh.