Issuing Fatwas Based on Personal Opinion
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on issuing a fatwa based on personal opinion (ra’y)?
❖ Answer:
Issuing a fatwa is a highly delicate responsibility. A mufti must possess comprehensive knowledge of the Qur’an, Hadith, the reports of the Companions, and other Islamic sciences.
If a case arises where, despite diligent effort, no ruling is found in the Qur’an, Sunnah, ijmā‘, or athār, then he may issue a fatwa based on his opinion and ijtihād. However, once he becomes aware of an explicit text from the Book or Sunnah, he must retract his opinion. This is the way of the people of truth.
✿ Evidences from Hadith
① Narration of Haril bin Shurāḥbīl (RA):
سئل أبو موسى عن بنت وابنة ابن وأخت، فقال: للبنت النصف، وللأخت النصف، وأت ابن مسعود، فسيتابعني، فسئل ابن مسعود، وأخبر بقول أبى موسى فقال: لقد ضللت إذا وما أنا من المهتدين، أقضي فيها بما قضى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: للابنة النصف، ولابنة ابن السدس تكملة الثلثين، وما بقي فللأخت، فأتينا أبا موسى فأخبرناه بقول ابن مسعود، فقال: لا تسألوني ما دام هذا الحبر فيكم.
Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (RA) was asked about the inheritance shares of a daughter, a granddaughter, and a sister. He replied: Half for the daughter, and half for the sister. Go to Ibn Mas‘ud, he will agree with me.
When Ibn Mas‘ud (RA) was asked and informed of Abu Musa’s reply, he said: If I gave that ruling, I would be astray and not among the rightly guided. I will decide as the Prophet ﷺ judged: half for the daughter, one-sixth for the granddaughter (completing two-thirds), and whatever remains is for the sister.
When we returned to Abu Musa (RA) and informed him of Ibn Mas‘ud’s fatwa, he said: Do not ask me as long as this ocean of knowledge is among you.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6736)
② Comment of Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar (رحمه الله, 852H):
This hadith indicates Abu Musa’s (RA) caution in issuing fatwas, as he referred the matter to a greater scholar. The fatwa of Ibn Mas‘ud (RA) is agreed upon among the jurists. Abu Musa’s words imply that he retracted his earlier view.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī: 12/18)
Conclusion:
- Even the greatest scholars can err in fatwa.
- True greatness lies in retracting from error when the truth becomes clear.
- Personal opinion (ra’y) and ijtihād may be used only when no clear text exists, but once evidence from Qur’an or Sunnah is found, personal opinion must be abandoned.
