The issue of the business of fatwas caused a great conflict between the mufti, who believes that scholarship, Fiqh and religion are not to be sold or bought according to the traditional system. Read and wonder. Clap your hands but do not hit your head against the wall.
The affair of the paid telephonic fatwa caused different reactions during recent weeks. Some say that it is haram [religiously forbidden] and others believe that it is halal. These different reactions led to the suspension of the project. The mufti is satisfied about this suspension as he is the foremost objector.
The most outstanding conflict regarding this issue is between Dr. Abdel-Mo’ti Bayoumi, dean of the ’Usul el-Din Faculty [Islamic Theology] at the Azhar University, and the mufti.
The former believes that there is nothing wrong with the project because those in charge do not take the paid money for the fatwa itself but for the phone call they make between the asker and the answerer. He stated that there is no contradiction between the project and the Shari’a. It is a matter of being in accordance with scientific and technological development in information field. Dr. Bayoumi added that the aim of this service is that whenever anyone has a question, he can find someone to ask.
Dr. Nasr Farid Wassal, the mufti of Egypt, believes that it is legally not allowed to sell the rule of Shari’a which people get as a response to their questions. He also believes that the project corrupts society and deepens the differences they tried to bridge. Fatwas in general cases are now issued by the scholars of Dar Al-Ifta and the Islamic Research Institute.
But Dr. Bayoumi responded "the rules of Islam are not limited to the opinion of one person. The difference in opinion between the four imams [Abu Hanifa, Malak, Al-Shafi and Abu Hanbil] did not spoil or harm the Islamic nation. On the contrary, it enriched the Islamic thinking and Fiqh. Concerning the issue of money, I will introduce your honor some documents of the Fatwa Committee, since its foundation in 1935. These documents include the rewards and the salaries of the scholars who dedicated their time to giving fatwas."
The Mufti responded, "we do not prevent ijtihad or religious preaching. However, the case is different when the matter is related to issuing an official fatwa. In this case, we should refer to the main source of issuing fatwas, in order not to give those religiously ignorant a chance to come out with opinions that has nothing to do with religion."
