If I ask a scholar and he issues a ruling for me, is it not permissible to ask someone else?
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The believing brother also says: These are two questions I am presenting because I heard them from some of the shaykhs who may issue rulings for people, and because I was not reassured by them, I asked about them.
The first: It is said: If you ask a scholar and he issues a ruling for you, then carry out what he told you and do not seek a ruling from anyone else. Is this correct, or can I ask until my heart is reassured?
Answer: This is not correct. Rather, the questioner should strive in asking until his heart is reassured, and he should seek out the most knowledgeable and the most scrupulous among the scholars until his heart is reassured that the ruling is valid, appropriate, and in accordance with the Shari'ah. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2389Sahih (Darussalam) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan ad-Darimi 18:3.
The believer seeks knowledge, understands the religion, and asks the scholars until his heart is reassured that the ruling is in accordance with the Shari'ah, according to his effort and capacity.
The presenter: Now, regarding a student of knowledge, if a person comes to him to seek a ruling and he knows from him that he has already sought a ruling from someone before, is it permissible for him to answer this inquiry?
The Shaykh: There is no harm, but the mufti must seek out the evidence from the Shari'ah, and not be lenient. He must seek out the Book and the Sunnah and give the questioner what he knows from the religion of Allah; the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and not be lenient. Rather, he should strive and be careful so that he does not issue a ruling except with insight and knowledge.
And if a questioner asks him and he knows that he has asked someone else, there is no harm. And if he asks him, he can say: What did so-and-so tell you? So that he can thereby either agree with him or disagree with him, and there is no harm in that.
The Companions used to do this. They used to do this: they would ask the one who asked them: What did so-and-so tell you? He would say: So-and-so said such and such. Then he would say: He is on his ruling. Or he might disagree with him and say: The ruling is such and such, and the ruling is such and such. Yes.
The presenter: Now, if he refuses to issue his ruling, is that considered concealing knowledge?
The Shaykh: If he knows that the ruling is invalid, then it is from concealing knowledge. But if it is based on independent legal reasoning, careful investigation, and opinion, then there is no harm.
The first: It is said: If you ask a scholar and he issues a ruling for you, then carry out what he told you and do not seek a ruling from anyone else. Is this correct, or can I ask until my heart is reassured?
Answer: This is not correct. Rather, the questioner should strive in asking until his heart is reassured, and he should seek out the most knowledgeable and the most scrupulous among the scholars until his heart is reassured that the ruling is valid, appropriate, and in accordance with the Shari'ah. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Righteouness is good behaviour, and sin is what fluctuates in your chest, and you would hate that the people discovered it about you.
البر حسن الخلق، والإثم ما حاك في نفسك وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناسSeek a ruling from your heart. Righteousness is that which the soul is reassured by and the heart is reassured by, and sin is that which nags in the soul and wavers in the chest, even if people issue rulings for you and they issue rulings for you.
استفت قلبك، البر ما اطمأنت إليه النفس واطمئن إليه القلب والإثم ما حاك في النفس، وتردد في الصدر، وإن أفتاك الناس وأفتوكThe believer seeks knowledge, understands the religion, and asks the scholars until his heart is reassured that the ruling is in accordance with the Shari'ah, according to his effort and capacity.
The presenter: Now, regarding a student of knowledge, if a person comes to him to seek a ruling and he knows from him that he has already sought a ruling from someone before, is it permissible for him to answer this inquiry?
The Shaykh: There is no harm, but the mufti must seek out the evidence from the Shari'ah, and not be lenient. He must seek out the Book and the Sunnah and give the questioner what he knows from the religion of Allah; the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and not be lenient. Rather, he should strive and be careful so that he does not issue a ruling except with insight and knowledge.
And if a questioner asks him and he knows that he has asked someone else, there is no harm. And if he asks him, he can say: What did so-and-so tell you? So that he can thereby either agree with him or disagree with him, and there is no harm in that.
The Companions used to do this. They used to do this: they would ask the one who asked them: What did so-and-so tell you? He would say: So-and-so said such and such. Then he would say: He is on his ruling. Or he might disagree with him and say: The ruling is such and such, and the ruling is such and such. Yes.
The presenter: Now, if he refuses to issue his ruling, is that considered concealing knowledge?
The Shaykh: If he knows that the ruling is invalid, then it is from concealing knowledge. But if it is based on independent legal reasoning, careful investigation, and opinion, then there is no harm.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.