What is a fatwa?

A fatwa is an account of a legal ruling for a particular case. It is issued by a qualified mufti. It does not bind as a judgment does, but it binds whoever has committed to it. ¹

The Sheikh recalls that in the late 1990s, at the start of a new satellite channel, a woman phoned in on air after the interview to ask about a country where taxes take a large part of the national income (needs_source) ².

She asked whether evading taxes is forbidden or permitted. The reply was that what the answerer had studied in jurisprudence is that evading zakat is forbidden, while she wanted a specific answer about taxes, and the Sheikh comments in amazement (needs_source) ³.

He cites a saying to the effect that among the worst of God's servants is one who asks about something and it is forbidden because of his asking, and he mentions young people who live in the West (needs_source) ⁴.

He describes someone who halts the breakfast table in the morning with a question about how a cheese was made, and holds that there is no need to press so hard in asking; he reminds listeners of God's favour in the night, the day and the heavens built above us ⁵.