Islam came with a fiqh methodology that assists scholars in helping people leave the worship of their desires & focus them on the worship of one Allah.

Today we have people who market themselves as knowledgeable and use their platforms to ignorantly portray the shariah in a way that helps people follow their desires, and consequently weaken their resolve with regards to true worship.

The Sahaabah warned us against following the mistaken conclusions of true scholars, especially when their views contradicted the views of the majority of those knowledgeable of the sunnah. This warning is clear from Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), Muadh bin Jabal (RA) and others from the first generation. So what would their advice be with regards to those who lack the requirements in the field of fatwa, but market themselves as knowledgeable today!?

The knowledge of this religion is about success and failure in this life and the next. Be very careful who you receive it from.

If two scholars differ in a ruling:

A) Follow the ruling of the scholar who is known to be more knowledgeable on the topic in question, as the truest Islamic ruling is dependent on having comprehensive knowledge of the matter in question, in order to most appropriately apply the laws of Islam over it.

B) If both scholars are of equal knowledge regarding a topic; follow the view of the most pious between them, for the more pious one is more likely to be blessed in his research methodology and conclusions of the topic.

C) If they are both known for their piety; follow the view that does not contradict the view of the majority of scholars of our past and present, for even though the majority can experience a mistake in a particular view; the frequency of this occurring is minimal.

Finally, please refer back to my first paragraph. A portrayed/self-marketed scholar who practices gymnastics with the religion in order to help you follow your desires is not doing you any favours in this life and the next. In the end, you will stand in front of Allah alone and will be answerable for your life’s modus operandi…

May Allah grant us steadfastness upon the truth and correct our affairs. Ameen.

Your brother
Sajid Umar