The Mufti is he who Issues a Fatwa that Leads to your Salvation, not one that Merely Pleases your Desires
From the words of His Eminence Sheikh Nuh Al-Qudha (may Allah have mercy on him):
"The Mufti is the one who gives you a fatwa that leads to your salvation, not one that simply pleases you."
Allah The Exalted Says (What means): "He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever is granted wisdom has truly been given much good. But none will remember except people of understanding."
[Al-Baqara/269].
The scholars have mentioned that one of the meanings of Hikmah (wisdom) mentioned in this verse is accuracy in speech. Anas said: "It is knowledge of the religion of Allah, understanding, and adherence to it." Al-Hasan said: "It is piety, and it is also obedience to Allah, understanding of the religion, and acting upon it." Ibrāhīm Al-Nakhaʿī said: "It is understanding of the Qur’an." [Tafsīr Al-Qurṭubī, vol.3/p.330].
After this clarification of the concept of Hikmah—which is only granted to those whom Allah intends good for—I say: Whoever lived during the time of His Eminence Sheikh Nūḥ (may Allah have abundant mercy on him) and interacted with him, there is no doubt that he would realize that the Sheikh was among those who had been granted wisdom in all its meanings. When he spoke, he spoke with precision; when he issued a fatwa, he did so based on knowledge of Allah’s religion; when he interpreted (the Qur’an or religious matters), he conveyed deep understanding; and when he gave admonition, he acted upon what he advised.
Therefore, I say—while we do not ascribe purity to anyone before Allah—that His Eminence was indeed among those to whom Allah granted wisdom. And here is the motto he raised for us at the General Iftaa’ Department, which is a clear indication of his wisdom (may Allah have mercy on him): "The Mufti is he who issues a fatwa that leads to your salvation, not one that merely pleases your desires."
Whoever reads and reflects on this motto will notice that it guides both the mufti (scholar issuing the fatwa) and the Mustafti (questioner) as follows:
For the Mufti, it directs him to:
- Not follow personal desires in issuing fatwas.
- Exercise caution and patience in delivering a ruling.
- Not fear the blame of critics when speaking the truth for the sake of Allah.
- Ensure the fatwa aligns with the Qur’an, Sunna, and scholarly consensus.
For the Mustafti (A person seeking the religious opinion from a Mufti/Scholar), it reminds him to:
- Trust the Mufti, knowing that he seeks their salvation, not their ruin.
- Accept the ruling of Allah in their matter.
- Avoid objecting to the fatwa simply because it opposes their personal desires or seeking to alter it.
- Refrain from pressuring the mufti to issue a ruling that conforms to their inclinations.
This is just some of what can be observed in the motto established by His Eminence (may Allah have mercy on him).
In conclusion, I ask Allah The Exalted to envelop him in His Mercy and Forgiveness, to benefit us and the Ummah through his knowledge, and to gather him and us among those upon whom Allah has bestowed His grace—of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent companions are they! Indeed, He is the Guardian over that and All-Powerful.
