المعنى الاصطلاحي

Informing someone of a religious ruling that he has asked about, without enforcing it.

الشرح المختصر

"Iftā’" (giving religious rulings) is to give a ruling according to the Shariah supported by the relevant proof and in a non-binding manner to someone who has asked about it with regard to a particular situation. The difference between a fatwa and a judicial judgment is that the former is non-binding, while the latter is binding. A mufti gives a general ruling that whoever does such-and-such shall be subject to such-and-such. A judge, on the other hand, passes a specific verdict regarding a specific person. So his ruling is binding on that person. Both "iftā’" and adjudication are greatly rewardable and extremely serious. According to many Qur’anic verses and Hadiths, it is forbidden to issue fatwas without knowledge or to express an opinion that contradicts the Shariah or is not deemed acceptable by it. For example, Allah, the Almighty, says: {He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know.} [Al-Baqarah: 169] This includes speaking about Allah, the Almighty, without knowledge concerning His names and attributes, the Shariah, and the religion.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Iftā’": the answer to a question. Other meanings: clarification of something obscure or confusing.

التعريف

To state the religious ruling on a particular religious question when a question about it is asked.