Is It Appropriate to Ask a Mufti: “What Is Islam’s Ruling?”
📚 Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
❖ Question:
Is it correct to ask a Mufti: “What is Islam’s ruling on this?” or “What is Islam’s opinion on this matter?”
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Using expressions such as:
◈ “What is Islam’s ruling on this?”
◈ “What is Islam’s opinion on this matter?”
— is not an appropriate manner of inquiry.
❖ Reason:
➤ It is possible that the Mufti may make an error in his response.
➤ In such a case, the answer given may not actually represent Islam’s ruling.
➤ Even if the questioner asks with sincere intent, the possibility of human error from the Mufti remains.
➤ Therefore, it is inappropriate to frame the question in a way that assigns the answer definitively as “Islam’s ruling” or “Islam’s opinion.”
❖ Exception to the Rule:
✅ However, if the issue is based on a clear and explicit Shar‘ī text (naṣ ṣarīḥ),
then in such a case it is correct to say:
“This is Islam’s ruling on the matter.”
❖ Example:
If someone asks:
“What is Islam’s ruling on consuming carrion?”
→ Then it can rightly be said:
“Islam’s ruling is that consuming carrion is ḥarām (forbidden).”
هٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
This is what I hold to be correct. And Allah knows best what is right.
