How are fatwas issued in response to Shar'i, religious, and legal questions? Do they rely on personal ijtihad, or on the Imams, Sunnah, and Qur'an? What is the Shari'ah's stance on the divergence of fatwas among scholars, and what should the questioner do in such a situation?

Issuing fatwas (religious edicts) is a weighty matter, inherent to the message of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The Mufti (one who issues fatwas) is the successor to the Prophet in clarifying Sharia rulings; he signs on behalf of Allah Almighty. The foundations for issuing a fatwa are the Quran, the Sunnah, scholarly consensus (Ijma'), and analogical reasoning (Qiyas) by scholars. In cases of contradiction, the most preponderant and strongest in evidence is chosen. It is not permissible to seek out the dispensations (rukhs) of various madhhabs (schools of thought) or the errors of scholars. The questioner (mustafti) should ask someone whom he trusts in their knowledge and piety. He should not pick and choose between answers when there is a disagreement, but rather act upon the preponderant view. The fatwa of a mufti does not absolve the questioner if he knows that the reality of the matter, in truth, is contrary to what he was advised. Juristic differences of opinion can be permissible or impermissible. The fatwas on this website undergo multiple stages of review and approval and adopt the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama'ah (the People of the Sunnah and the Community).