In one of the past months of Ramadan, while I was fasting, I applied oil to my hair. I did not know that this invalidates the fast, and one of my sisters informed me that my fast was not valid.
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The questioner : You say that in one of the past months of Ramadan, while you were fasting, you applied oil to your hair. You did not know that this invalidates the fast, and one of your sisters informed you that your fast was not valid, so you broke your fast that day. You have informed us that you made up that day after Ramadan ended, and that this month was the first time you had ever fasted. Is there any sin on you for what you did?
The Shaykh : The answer to this part of the question, from the questions that were submitted, is from two angles. The first angle is the one who issued the fatwa to her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : She was issued a fatwa without knowledge. Applying oil to the hair while fasting does not invalidate the fast. If this fatwa was issued without knowledge, then I advise everyone who is listening to these words of mine that it is not permissible for a person to issue a fatwa without knowledge. Because a fatwa means that a person speaks about Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and expresses what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has legislated in His Shari'ah among His servants. This is forbidden and among the greatest of sins.[Al-An'am 6:144] And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:33].
I warn every person who speaks about the Shari'ah and issues fatwas to the servants of Allah. I warn him not to speak about what he does not know. And I say that it is obligatory for a person to be cautious in issuing fatwas until he knows, either by himself if he is qualified for independent legal reasoning, or by asking the scholars about the ruling of Allah in this issue.
As for the second angle, it is from the side of this woman who was issued a fatwa without knowledge, so she broke her fast based on this fatwa, and then she made up the day that was required of her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then she owes nothing now, because she performed what is obligatory upon her. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The answer to this part of the question, from the questions that were submitted, is from two angles. The first angle is the one who issued the fatwa to her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : She was issued a fatwa without knowledge. Applying oil to the hair while fasting does not invalidate the fast. If this fatwa was issued without knowledge, then I advise everyone who is listening to these words of mine that it is not permissible for a person to issue a fatwa without knowledge. Because a fatwa means that a person speaks about Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and expresses what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has legislated in His Shari'ah among His servants. This is forbidden and among the greatest of sins.
Then who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah to mislead the people by [something] other than knowledge?
فَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّنِ افتَرى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا لِيُضِلَّ النّاسَ بِغَيرِ عِلمٍSay, "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."
قُل إِنَّما حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الفَواحِشَ ما ظَهَرَ مِنها وَما بَطَنَ وَالإِثمَ وَالبَغيَ بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ وَأَن تُشرِكوا بِاللَّهِ ما لَم يُنَزِّل بِهِ سُلطانًا وَأَن تَقولوا عَلَى اللَّهِ ما لا تَعلَمونَI warn every person who speaks about the Shari'ah and issues fatwas to the servants of Allah. I warn him not to speak about what he does not know. And I say that it is obligatory for a person to be cautious in issuing fatwas until he knows, either by himself if he is qualified for independent legal reasoning, or by asking the scholars about the ruling of Allah in this issue.
As for the second angle, it is from the side of this woman who was issued a fatwa without knowledge, so she broke her fast based on this fatwa, and then she made up the day that was required of her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then she owes nothing now, because she performed what is obligatory upon her. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.