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Are there any Hadith that mention those who speak on a fatwa without knowledge and those who quote Prophetic Hadith without knowledge, and who make excuses by claiming they are callers to Allah?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Giving fatwas (religious edicts) is a matter of great danger, because the mufti is an heir of the prophets and a signatory on behalf of Allah. Therefore, many of the Salaf (pious predecessors) refrained from issuing fatwas, fearing to fall into what is forbidden. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: "Whoever misses 'I don't know' has been struck in his vital organs." Imam Malik said: "There is nothing light in knowledge." Al-Khatib said: "Rarely does one eagerly pursue giving fatwas except that his success diminishes." So, giving a fatwa without knowledge is a great evil and a clear sin. Allah has coupled it with shirk (polytheism) in His saying: {Say: My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah what you do not know} [Al-A'raf: 33]. It is the root of shirk, disbelief, innovations, and misguidance. All the consequences of a fatwa issued without knowledge, in terms of violating the Sharia, their sin falls upon the one who issued it, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever is given a fatwa without knowledge, its sin is upon the one who gave the fatwa."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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