[2] Circumstances in Which a Fatwa Issuer May or May Not Be Sinful for an Erroneous Fatwa

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Ibn As-Ṣalāḥ, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

His (Fatwa giver) lackadaisical and corrupt (attitude) may lead him to corrupt motives in employing prohibited or disliked stratagems, or to cling to ambiguous (doubtful) matters in pursuit of concessions for someone he wants to benefit (serve), or to impose stricter rulings upon someone whom he wishes to harm. Whoever does this has made his religion insignificant in his own eyes. We ask Allah, the Most High, to grant us well-being and forgiveness.” [1]

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

This is a grave matter into which the ignorant mufti falls, thus, deceiving people, lying about Allah and His Messenger, altering the religion, declaring forbidden what Allah has not forbidden, and making obligatory what Allah has not made obligatory. And Allah is the One whose help is sought. [2]

[1] Adab al-Muftī wa al-Mustaftī p. 111

[2] Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn 4/167