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The question

Is it established in the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah that there is such a thing as "the variation of fatwas with the variation of time and place"?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

The change in fatwa does not imply a change in the fixed Islamic rulings (ahkam shar'iyyah) established by the Quran and Sunnah. Original rulings, such as the prohibition of intoxicants (khamr) and adultery (zina), do not change. Some have exploited the concept of "change in fatwa" to tamper with these fixed rulings, but this is false, as change pertains only to fatwas based on ijtihad (independent reasoning), not to definitive rulings (ahkam qat'iyyah). Scholars have warned against this. Changing fixed rulings that are based on revelation would mean distorting the religion and abrogating the Sharia after its completion and the passing of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is a false statement, as the Sharia is definitive and fixed; it does not vanish or change. The principle governing the understanding of fatwa change is that it applies to ijtihad and is affected by differences in time, place, and customs, such as the value of a lost item (luqtah) or the type of food for Zakat al-Fitr. The mufti must consider the customs and environment of the questioner (mustafti), and rigid adherence to transmitted texts without considering these variables is a deviation in religion.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

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Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
8210
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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