Watchfulness in Regards of Giving Religious Verdicts

By Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

This is similar to the hatred of the Salaf al-Salih (the Pious Predecessors) that a person should put himself forward to give religious verdicts (fatawa) and to crave them, and to hasten to it, and to do it in excess. Ibn Lahi‘ah reports from ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Abi Ja‘far in mursal form from the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) that he said, “He who is boldest from you in giving religious verdicts will be the boldest in proceeding to the Fire”. ‘Alqamah states, “They used to say, ‘The boldest of you in giving religious verdicts is the one having the least knowledge.’”