Ruling on Falsely Accusing an Imam to Obtain a Desired Fatwa | Islamic Ruling

Question:

What is the ruling about a person who asks a false question (i.e. lies) to get a fatwa (suitable to him), by accusing an Imam of some Haraam act, without any valid Shar’ee evidence?

Answer:

To tell lies is Gunah e Kabeera, i.e. a major sin, and to ask a false question falls in the same category, and this also falls in the category of falsely accusing someone and attributing lies towards him.

A few things have been mentioned in the Hadith due to which he gets the retribution for it on this earth even before that of the hereafter. From amongst this, is to oppress someone, and to falsely charge a believing person with something he is not liable for. It is also impermissible to wrongly charge a believer with any sin be it major or minor.

On the condition of this question being true, the one who is responsible for such an action is severely sinful and deserving of the Wrath of the Almighty. It is necessary for him to repent, and if the information of his action (i.e. the matter of the Fatwa) reaches the person who has been falsely charged, then he will be hurt by this, and it is mentioned in the Hadith,

‘One who hurts a Muslim, hurts me and he who hurts me has displeased Allah and one who displeases Allah, and it is near that Allah will seize him.’

Hence, Tauba is necessary upon the person who did this, and if the person he asked the (false) question about, has been informed of this, then he (the one who asked the false question) must ask his forgiveness as well.

References:

1. Ordinance of Sayyidi Taj ush Shariah, page. 24-25

[ English Translation ]

Mufti Afthab Cassim al-Qadri Ridawi Noori,

Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center,

Durban, South Africa.