Is it obligatory to ask the people of knowledge when there is ambiguity in a legal ruling, or is it sufficient to act upon what is more cautious?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Precaution is good and clears one's conscience. Leaving what is doubtful for what is not doubtful is a way of avoiding suspicions. It is not permissible to look into someone's private papers if they explicitly or implicitly forbid it. However, it is permissible to look into them with their explicit or implicit permission. The early Muslims (Salaf) disliked looking into another person's book without their permission. The "Whoever looks into his brother's book without his permission is as if he is looking into fire" has been interpreted as referring to a book containing secrets and trusts, or to any book in general.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/183306
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 183306
- 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