One Who Issues Fatwa is Responsible

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَاعِداً فِي حَلْقَةِ رَبِيعَةِ الرَّأْيِ فَجَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَسَأَلَ رَبِيعَةَ الرَّأْيِ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَأَجَابَهُ فَلَمَّا سَكَتَ قَالَ لَهُ الْأَعْرَابِيُّ أَ هُوَ فِي عُنُقِكَ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ رَبِيعَةُ وَ لَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئاً فَأَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَأَجَابَهُ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْأَعْرَابِيُّ أَ هُوَ فِي عُنُقِكَ فَسَكَتَ رَبِيعَةُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was in the group of the circle of Rabi‘ah al-Ra’y when an Arab man came and asked Rabi‘ah al-Ra’iy a question and he replied. When he became quiet the Arab man asked, ‘Do you take responsibility for your answer?’ He remained quiet and did not respond. He repeated the question and he gave a

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَنْ أَفْتَى النَّاسَ‌ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ‌ وَ لا هُدىً‌ مِنَ اللَّهِ لَعَنَتْهُ مَلَائِكَةُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَلَائِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ وَ لَحِقَهُ وِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِفُتْيَاهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one issues fatwas without knowledge and guidance from Allah, all angels, of mercy and angels of suffering condemn him and the sin of those who follow his fatwas will be attached to him.’”