Is it permissible to seek a fatwa from just anyone in matters of religion?
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The questioner : The question, may Allah reward you, is that we are sometimes in a gathering, as Allah wills... people trust him and so on, or any ordinary person asks any questions, and the conversation drags on until late at night with questions about religion, which is not needed, of course. So how does a person suppress this knowledge or remain silent? What is the ruling on that?
The Shaykh : First, he asks: If we are in a gathering and questions directed to a student of knowledge multiply, is it obligatory for him to answer every question? Is that your question?
The questioner : Or any one person.
The Shaykh : How do you mean any one person?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for you to seek a fatwa except from one whom you believe to be qualified for issuing fatwas, because this is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from. Any one person who steps forward among the common people and sits down to speak, and the common person thinks he is an ocean of knowledge, and what does he know? But no... And do not seek a fatwa, especially in our time when everyone has become a mufti, except from one in whose knowledge and religion you have confidence. Do you understand?
The questioner : I mean, he does not answer simple questions.
The Shaykh : Are you asking about the scholar, whether he answers or does not answer? Or are you asking aboutThe questioner : whether he asks or does not ask? I do not know whether you are a scholar or not.
The questioner : The one who asks, should I say: Ask...?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with that.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible to refer someone to another person, even if you know, especially if you fear fitnah for yourself, because a fatwa is actually like magic; once a person issues a fatwa, he keeps issuing them and never comes down from that position. So it actually takes hold of a person's mind. If you fear fitnah, say: Ask so-and-so.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, yes[An-Nisa 4:37] But you did not withhold; you guided him to one who is more trustworthy than you in knowledge and more knowledgeable than you, and this is not withholding. For this reason, the righteous Salaf would pass on the fatwa, saying: Go to so-and-so, go to so-and-so. Yes.
The Shaykh : First, he asks: If we are in a gathering and questions directed to a student of knowledge multiply, is it obligatory for him to answer every question? Is that your question?
The questioner : Or any one person.
The Shaykh : How do you mean any one person?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for you to seek a fatwa except from one whom you believe to be qualified for issuing fatwas, because this is religion, so look to whom you take your religion from. Any one person who steps forward among the common people and sits down to speak, and the common person thinks he is an ocean of knowledge, and what does he know? But no... And do not seek a fatwa, especially in our time when everyone has become a mufti, except from one in whose knowledge and religion you have confidence. Do you understand?
The questioner : I mean, he does not answer simple questions.
The Shaykh : Are you asking about the scholar, whether he answers or does not answer? Or are you asking aboutThe questioner : whether he asks or does not ask? I do not know whether you are a scholar or not.
The questioner : The one who asks, should I say: Ask...?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with that.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible to refer someone to another person, even if you know, especially if you fear fitnah for yourself, because a fatwa is actually like magic; once a person issues a fatwa, he keeps issuing them and never comes down from that position. So it actually takes hold of a person's mind. If you fear fitnah, say: Ask so-and-so.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, yes