What is the ruling on being lenient in issuing fatwas?
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Question:
What is the ruling on being lenient in issuing fatwas, given that I have noticed that some of the brothers—may Allah guide them—in gatherings and public places, when one of them is asked about a specific situation or matter, either goes to the internet or says, "I heard a fatwa from so-and-so"? Unfortunately, they do not realize that a fatwa is sometimes dependent on the questioner's condition, his situation, and the nature of his circumstances?
Answer:
Answer: A fatwa (a scholarly legal ruling) is a signature from Allah, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in *I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in 'an Rabb al-'Alamin* (The Signatures of the One Who Signs About the Lord of the Worlds): it is a signature from Allah that He has made such and such lawful or forbidden. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: (*Say, "My Lord has only forbidden the obscenities, whether apparent or hidden, and sin and transgression 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"*). Therefore, a fatwa is a statement about Allah. If one conveys a valid fatwa from the Book and the Sunnah and from the scholars, and is certain of it, there is nothing wrong with that; this is part of conveying knowledge. However, if one simply says, "I heard such and such," regarding everything one hears, and the fatwa may be an error issued by someone who is not qualified to issue fatwas, then one should not rush into these matters. There is nothing wrong with issuing a personal fatwa to the one who asked or to the one who observed the issue, provided one has knowledge. As for fatwas on general matters and current events, these should be sent to the official Ifta' authority so that they may handle the response. (*And when there comes to them a matter of public safety or fear, they spread it about, whereas if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those who derive [judgments] from them would have understood it*.) So, general fatwas and current events should be referred to the established Ifta' authority, and not everyone should ask about them or intervene in them.
What is the ruling on being lenient in issuing fatwas, given that I have noticed that some of the brothers—may Allah guide them—in gatherings and public places, when one of them is asked about a specific situation or matter, either goes to the internet or says, "I heard a fatwa from so-and-so"? Unfortunately, they do not realize that a fatwa is sometimes dependent on the questioner's condition, his situation, and the nature of his circumstances?
Answer:
Answer: A fatwa (a scholarly legal ruling) is a signature from Allah, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in *I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in 'an Rabb al-'Alamin* (The Signatures of the One Who Signs About the Lord of the Worlds): it is a signature from Allah that He has made such and such lawful or forbidden. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: (*Say, "My Lord has only forbidden the obscenities, whether apparent or hidden, and sin and transgression 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"*). Therefore, a fatwa is a statement about Allah. If one conveys a valid fatwa from the Book and the Sunnah and from the scholars, and is certain of it, there is nothing wrong with that; this is part of conveying knowledge. However, if one simply says, "I heard such and such," regarding everything one hears, and the fatwa may be an error issued by someone who is not qualified to issue fatwas, then one should not rush into these matters. There is nothing wrong with issuing a personal fatwa to the one who asked or to the one who observed the issue, provided one has knowledge. As for fatwas on general matters and current events, these should be sent to the official Ifta' authority so that they may handle the response. (*And when there comes to them a matter of public safety or fear, they spread it about, whereas if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those who derive [judgments] from them would have understood it*.) So, general fatwas and current events should be referred to the established Ifta' authority, and not everyone should ask about them or intervene in them.
Source
www.alfawzan.af.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.