The Danger of Issuing Fatwas Without Knowledge

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Question:
Your Eminence! There are people who take on the role of issuing fatwas without knowledge, such as our companion telling this poor woman: "You have no reward for fasting ten days in Rajab and ten days in Sha'ban." What is your guidance to the people regarding this? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Issuing a fatwa without knowledge is a great evil, and it is something Allah has forbidden for His servants, placing its rank above shirk (associating partners with Allah). He, the Exalted, said in Surat al-A'raf:

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 تَعْلَمُونَ

[Al-A'raf:33]. Therefore, it is obligatory for the student of knowledge to fear Allah and to be cautious about speaking about Allah without knowledge. If this applies to the student of knowledge, how much more so does it apply to others? It is not permissible for anyone to issue a fatwa without knowledge, whether a man, a woman, a student of knowledge, or anyone else. The believer must fear Allah and be afraid of Allah, the Exalted, and not speak about what is lawful and what is forbidden except with knowledge. Allah, the Exalted, said:

Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight

قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ

[Yusuf:108], meaning: with knowledge.
And He, the Exalted, informed us in Surat al-Baqarah that issuing a fatwa without knowledge is something Satan commands. He, the Exalted, said:

O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوا مِمَّا فِي الأَرْضِ حَلالًا طَيِّبًا وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ ۝

[Al-Baqarah 2:168]

Indeed, he only commands you to do evil and indecency and to say about Allah that which you do not know [Al-Baqarah:169]. This is from Satan's command; he commands people to say about Allah that which they do not know.
Therefore, it is obligatory for every believing man and woman to be cautious of obeying Satan in speaking about Allah without knowledge and issuing fatwas without knowledge, whether in matters of worship or otherwise. Allah, the Exalted, said:

So ask the people of the message if you do not know.

فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ

[An-Nahl:43]. Thus, fatwas should come from the people of knowledge, meaning: those who have knowledge of the Great Qur'an and the pure Sunnah, the scholars of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). They are the ones who issue fatwas to the people, and they are the ones who are asked. We ask Allah for guidance for everyone, we ask Allah for guidance for us and all our brothers. Yes.

The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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