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Fatwa CenterGiving the wrong advice
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I am resending my question and hope that it is clear now. If a learned person gave some advice for someone’s circumstance, but their advice was disapproved in certain scenarios, and then the learned person comes to know what occurred and realizes that the scenarios may be saying what is the accurate answer for the individual whom they advised. Are they sinful for not inquiring about or listening to other learned individuals as to what their point of view is and accepting the truth without following their own desire among them?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The question is still unclear, however, we say for benefit: if the person offering advice keenly strives in seeking the truth and advises the other person with what he believes to be correct, then he has fulfilled his obligation and he bears no sin because Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {So fear Allah as much as you are able...} [Quran 64:16] If there was neglect on his part, he bears a sin for it and it is obligatory on him to repent to Allah. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {So, ask the people of the message if you do not know.} [Quran 16:43]
ʻAbdullah ibn ʻAbbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that a man was injured during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; he then had a wet dream and was advised to wash himself (perform Ghusl [ritual bath]), so he washed himself and died as a result. When this was reported to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he said, "They killed him; may Allah kill them! Is not inquiry the cure for ignorance!" [Abu Daawood and Ibn Maajah]
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated Allah against them due to their neglect in asking about the ruling instead of giving fatwa without knowledge (and causing his death accordingly).
Allah knows best.
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