Is a layperson obligated to act upon the fatwa of the most reliable scholar, or by inquiring about the most preponderant opinion and acting upon it, especially since "the most preponderant opinion" is closer to what is correct when scholars differ?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Preponderance is a relative matter; what one scholar considers preponderant, another may not. When scholars differ, it is incumbent upon the layperson to follow the one whose knowledge and piety they trust, and this is precisely what is meant by following the preponderant opinion. It is permissible to follow the opinion of a deceased scholar just as it is permissible to follow that of a living one, because opinions do not die with the death of their proponents.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/167796
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 167796
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy