The Koran and Sunnah are the foundations of our wonderful religion. From these religious texts, scholars have been able to establish rules of jurisprudence, indispensable for issuing religious opinions. The fatwa is issued according to the question posed, but also according to the case in question.Discover many books on fatawa in your online Muslim bookshop .

What does the word fatwa mean?

This Arabic term is used in many discussions relating to legal issues in Islam. To answer a given question, a scholar will issue a legal opinion based on the elements at his or her disposal, drawing on the Qur'an and Sunnah. This legal opinion is known as a fatwa.

Fatawas is the plural of fatwa, and refers to several religious opinions. So when we speak of books on fatawas, we're referring to works in which the author has recorded numerous fatwas.

In several passages of the Koran, Allah enjoins believers to return to the scholars when they do not know. Not all of them are qualified to issue a fatwa. Here again, we must refer to people of science who have a scientific background, and hold the rank ofmufti.

By questioning the scholar, the Muslim complies with Islamic legislation. Turning away from the ulama and acting according to one's own opinion is a transgression.

Seeking the fatwa

The believer who does not make the effort to find answers to his questions faces laxity or harshness in many cases. Indeed, some are led to forbid themselves what Allah has made lawful. As for others, they make halal what Allah has made haram.

Sheikh Al Albani's contemporary fatawas are a must-have in his mektaba. Indeed, it contains many of the fatwas issued by this noble scholar, rahimahullah, adapted to our times.

The ignorant cannot give his opinion in Islam in general. The questioner must therefore go to a scholar authorized to issue a fatwa. Today, many people are rushing into this exercise, which involves heavy responsibilities. The sahabas preferred to remain silent and not have to issue fatawas.

When Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him , wasasked 40 questions , he answered only 4. As for the other 36, he preferred to abstain and answered "لا ادري" which means "I don't know", despite his rank. As a reminder, he was one of the four jurisconsults who founded the four famous schools of jurisprudence.

The Koran and Sunnah as the only watchwords

Seeking a fatwa from the people of science is a praiseworthy endeavor. However, we must bear in mind that the answers to our religious questions can only be found in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Here again, the Muslim must not rush into blind imitation. Even when we obtain fatawas, we must be aware of the evidence drawn from the Quran and hadith.