Adapted from Badaaiul Fawaaid vol.3 pp.334-336 of Al-Imaam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, rahimahullah, under the Chapter, Praising the Righteous Scholars
Ibn Uyaynah narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, who said:
"The scholar stands between Allah and His creation, so let him consider how he intercedes between them."
Sahl ibn Abdullah said:
"Whoever wants to see the virtues of the Prophets should look at the virtues of the scholars. A man comes and asks: 'O so-and-so, what is the ruling on a man who swears upon his wife with such-and-such?' The scholar responds: 'His wife is divorced.' This is a station of the Prophets, so recognize their status."
Abdur-Rahman ibn Abi Layla said:
"I met about 120 of the Ansar, companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When one of them was asked a question, he would refer it to another "This one refers to that one, and that one to the next, until it returns to the first. None of them wished to give a fatwa, hoping that his brother would suffice him in it."
Ibn Mas’ood said:
"Whoever gives fatwas to the people on every issue they ask about is insane."
It was narrated from Ibn Abbas, and Husayn al-Asadi said:
"One of you issues a fatwa on a matter that, if it had come before Umar ibn al-Khattab, he would have gathered the people of Badr to consult on it."
A similar statement was reported from al-Hasan and al-Sha’bi.
Al-Hakim said:
"I heard Abu Abdullah al-Saffar say: I heard Abdullah ibn Ahmad say: I heard my father say: I heard al-Shafi’i say: I heard Malik ibn Anas say: I heard Muhammad ibn Ajlan say:
'If a scholar errs in saying "I do not know," his fatal blow has been struck.'
A similar narration has been attributed to Ibn Abbas.
Abu Umar narrated from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad that a man came to him and asked him about something. Al-Qasim replied:
"I do not know it."
The man kept saying: "I came to you because I know no one else," to which al-Qasim responded:
"Do not look at the length of my beard or the large number of people around me. By Allah, I do not know it."
A Qurayshi elder sitting next to him said:
"O nephew, hold firm to this, for by Allah, I have never seen anything like this in your father’s gatherings."
Al-Qasim replied:
"By Allah, having my tongue cut off is dearer to me than speaking about something I do not know."
Abu Umar narrated from Ibn Uyaynah and Sahnun:
"The boldest of people in giving fatwas are the least knowledgeable among them."
Malik ibn Anas used to say:
"Whoever answers a question must first imagine himself standing between Paradise and Hell, and consider how he will be saved in the Hereafter."
He was once asked about a matter, and he replied: "I do not know."
It was said to him: "But it is a simple and easy matter."
Malik became angry and said:
"There is nothing simple in knowledge. Have you not heard Allah’s words: {Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word} (Qur'an 73:5)? All knowledge is heavy, especially what one will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment."
He also said:
"The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon them) found questions difficult, and none of them would answer without consulting their companions, despite their divinely granted righteousness, guidance, and purity. So how about us, whose hearts are veiled by sins and transgressions?"
Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdi said:
"A man came to Malik asking about an issue for several days without receiving an answer. Finally, the man said:
"O Abu Abd al-Rahman, I want to leave, but I have been coming back to you repeatedly."
Malik lowered his head for a long time, then raised it and said:
"By Allah’s will, dear questioner, I only speak on matters in which I hope for goodness, but I am not well-versed in your question."
Ash-Shafi’i was once asked about a matter and remained silent. Someone said to him: "Why don’t you answer? May Allah have mercy on you." He replied:
"I am waiting to see whether it is better for me to remain silent or to answer."
Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib would rarely issue a fatwa or say anything without supplicating:
"O Allah, keep me safe and protect others from harm through me."
Suhnun said:
"The most wretched of people is the one who sells his Hereafter for his worldly life. Even more wretched is the one who sells his Hereafter for someone else’s worldly life."
He explained:
"I reflected on this and found that it applies to the mufti. A man comes to him, having broken an oath concerning his wife or slave, and the mufti says: ‘There is nothing upon you.’ The man then continues enjoying his wife and slave, while the mufti has sold his religion for the man’s worldly desires."
A man came to Suhnun asking about an issue and kept returning for three days. The man finally said:
"O Suhnun, may Allah preserve you, must I wait three days for my question?"
Suhnun replied:
"What can I do about your question? It is a complex matter with differing opinions, and I am confused about it."
The man said: "Are you, may Allah preserve you, not capable of answering every difficult question?"
Suhnun replied:
"Far from it, my nephew! By saying such things, would you have me offer my flesh and blood to the Fire? There is much I do not know. If you wait patiently, I hope you will leave with your answer. But if you wish to go to someone else, you may find a quick answer in an hour."
The man replied: "I came to you and will not ask anyone else."
Suhnun said: "Then be patient," and later gave him an answer.
Suhnun was told:
"You are asked about issues that one of your peers would easily answer, yet you hesitate?"
He replied:
"The trial of giving a correct answer is greater than the trial of wealth."
One of the scholars said:
"Rarely does someone who is eager to issue fatwas, competes for them, and persists in giving them find success. Such a person often becomes confused in their matters. On the other hand, whoever dislikes issuing fatwas, avoids it whenever possible, and refers questions to others when able will receive more divine aid, and their answers and fatwas will be more correct and sound."
Bishr al-Hafi said:
"Whoever loves to be asked questions is not fit to be asked."
Abu Umar narrated that Malik said:
"A man told me he once entered upon Rabi’ah and found him weeping. The man said: ‘What is making you cry? Has a calamity befallen you?’ Alarmed by his tears, the man asked again.
Rabi’ah replied:
‘No, but people who have no knowledge are issuing fatwas, and a great calamity has appeared in Islam.’"
Rabi’ah added:
"Some of those issuing fatwas here are more deserving of imprisonment than thieves."
Culled and checked by Aboo Aamir Al-Atharee
