What is the ruling on someone who is too shy to ask the scholars in his city due to his lack of trust in their knowledge, and instead asks you despite knowing that the answer will be delayed?
If the reason you do not ask the shaykh in your country is a lack of trust in his knowledge and his eligibility to issue fatwas, then you are excused, because the common person must ask the people of knowledge whose knowledge and piety they trust. However, if the impediment is merely shyness, then your need for a prompt answer must be considered. If the matter is urgent and delaying knowledge of it would result in abandoning an obligation or committing a forbidden act, then it is not permissible to delay asking, even if people capable of issuing fatwas are available in your country, for Allah Almighty says: "So ask the people of the message if you do not know," and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Why did they not ask if they did not know? Indeed, the cure for ignorance is asking."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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