The Ruling on Transmitting a Fatwa from the Scholars

Question:
Many young people—especially some of the imams of the mosques—when they are asked a question by one of their congregants, they answer or issue a fatwa on it, claiming that they heard something like this from one of the shaykhs in whom they have confidence, even though they have not sought the answer to this fatwa in the books or verified its accuracy.

Answer:
If a person transmits from another, and the scholars have stated that there is no harm in doing so, and if he has grasped the wording correctly when he says, "I heard so-and-so say that so-and-so issued this fatwa," for instance, if a person asked him about doubt in prayer—whether he prayed two or three rak'ahs—and he did not have knowledge of the noble hadith, but he said, "I heard such-and-such a scholar say that if one doubts whether he prayed three or four, he should build upon the certainty, making it three; and if he doubts whether he prayed three or two, he should make it two," then if he attributes it to its source, the one who reported this is at liberty to either act upon it, if the reporter is trustworthy, or to go to the scholar from whom it was transmitted and ask him.

The Intended Meaning: It is not harmful for an imam in the mosque, or any other trustworthy person, to transmit a fatwa. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is the meaning: let the one present convey it to the one absent. If a person conveys it to another and says, "I heard so-and-so say such-and-such," then in that case, if you trust this man and know that he is trustworthy, you are at liberty to either accept this or to consult the original source to ensure the correctness of the fatwa.