Mentioning the cases in which it is permissible for the mufti to withhold knowledge.

The Shaykh : There are some people who are obsessed with pitting the opinions of scholars against one another. You find one asking so-and-so to see what he has, then going to another scholar to ask him to see what he has. If we know that this is his state, is it obligatory for the one being asked to answer him? No, it is not obligatory. If you know that this person is not asking to seek guidance, but rather wants to see what you have, then goes to the second to see what he has, and goes to the third to see what he has, you are not obligated to answer him. This is not considered withholding knowledge; rather, it is part of care and upbringing so that this questioner knows that he has no standing with the people of knowledge. Is that clear, O brothers? Good. For this reason, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): What? Because they do not want the truth. Good. There are people who ask while seeking out dispensations. Is it obligatory for the scholar to issue a ruling to them? I know that the man does not want what I have; he asks me, and if I say this is forbidden, he goes to another scholar hoping that he will say it is lawful.
This person is not to be answered as long as we know that he is seeking out dispensations; therefore, we do not answer him.
As for the one we know wants to seek guidance, Allah the Exalted says: .
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