Should a Mufti Tell All Different Views?

Giving a fatwa is an important thing that is practiced by Muslim scholars. Differences among schools of Islamic teachings, sometimes, have a great benefit to people. The mufti has the right to inform the questioner about all different opinions regarding a specific issue. If he finds that a specific opinion will solve a problem, then this opinion should be given priority over other ones.

Dr. Sano KoutoubMoustapha, deputy chairman of the International Fiqh Academy and professor of fiqh and its principles at the International Islamic University, Malaysia, stated: Originally the mufti is strongly recommended to tell the questioner all the various opinions in order to enable him or her to choose whatever view or opinion as long as the opinions are coming from qualified and sincere scholars. Thus, there is no harm in following any of the opinions established by qualified scholars, whose views are considered acceptable and valid. Having said this, the mufti may help and advise the questioner to choose one of the opinions that seems to be more suitable to his or her conditions.

Furthermore, the mufti may even insist that the questioner follows a specific view if the mufti becomes convinced of the necessity of following a specific opinion.