Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Twelve Qualities of the True Ulama - Sixth Quality
6. Not Being Hasty in Issuing Fatwas
The sixth quality of the true Ulama who are concerned about the Aakhirah is that they are not hasty in issuing fatwas (Islamic rulings) and are very careful in explaining the masaa’il of deen (and giving advice on Islamic matters). As far as possible, they send the questioner to someone else whom they consider to be more capable of giving the correct answers.
Abu Hafs Naysaapuri (rahimhullah) says, “A true Aalim is one who is such that when giving a fatwa, he is afraid of being questioned, tomorrow on the Day of Qiyaamah, on what grounds did he issue such a fatwa.”
Some of the Ulama have mentioned that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were reluctant to accept the following four responsibilities:
- The position of an Imaam (one who leads the fardh salaah)
- The position of an executor of an estate. (i.e. the responsibility to wind and distribute the property of the deceased)
- To look after someone’s amaanah (trust)
- Issuing rulings (fatwas) in Islamic matters
And the five works which the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) took great enjoyment in were the following:
- Reciting the Quraan Majeed.
- Staying in the Masaajid for long periods.
- Remembering Allah Ta‘ala (zikr).
- Encouraging people to do what is good
- Stopping people from doing evil.
Ibnu Husain (rahimahullah) says, “Some people are hasty in issuing fatwas in important matters, whereas if such matters had to be referred to Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), then he would not have issued a fatwa without first gathering and checking with all the great Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who had participated in the Battle of Badr.”
Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is a great Sahaabi who had the honour of serving Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for ten years, yet whenever he was asked any mas’alah, he would refer it to Hazrat Hasan Basri (rahimahullah) (who was a Taabi’ee as well as a great buzrug and a famous aalim. Despite being a Sahaabi, Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would refer people to this Taabi’ee).
Similarly, when a mas’alah would be posed to Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), who was a famous Sahaabi known as Ra’eesul-Mufassireen (the leader of the commentators of the Qur’aan Shareef), then he would say to the person asking the mas’alah, “Go and ask Jaabir bin Zaid (who was a Taabi’ee, but very capable in issuing fatwas).”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), who was a great Sahaabi and a famous aalim, would also refer people to Hazrat Sa’eed bin Musayyab (rahimahullah), who was a Taabi’ee, for fatwas.
(Fazaa’il-e-Sadaqaat [English] pg. 445-446, [Urdu] pg. 489-490)
