The word ‘mufti’ is derived from the Arabic language. A mufti is a person who is an expert in Islamic law who issues a fatwa (legal opinion), and they usually occupy administrative positions. A mufti’s legal opinion doesn’t have to be relevant to a court case, which makes the opinion non-binding. This blog will explain in detail ‘what is a mufti’, the difference between a mufti and a faqih, and what it takes to be a mufti.
The Essence Of A Mufti
Simply put, the job of a mufti is to give fatwas. In other words, a mufti establishes rules that have to be followed in the Muslim community. These rules can be about anything. From marriage to business, Muslims may ask the mufti whatever they have doubts about. A mufti acts as a teacher and performs the same role as the Prophet PBUH in explaining the Shariah (Islamic Law) to people with limited knowledge and understanding.
The Appointing Of A Mufti
The appointing of a mufti is a carefully crafted procedure with many steps. These steps ensure that the mufti is Islamically eligible to give his opinion on different matters, has extensive knowledge of the Quran and its related sciences, has ample knowledge of the Sunnah, can distinguish weak reports from sound ones, has knowledge of the Arabic language, and knows Islamic legal theory.
This person must possess insight into the current issues and be familiar with the differences of opinion among the jurists. Furthermore, he must be a specialist in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence through experience or by graduating from a specialized school that offers specific courses and degrees. Therefore, the appointment of a mufti is based on how much power he possesses in the world rather than how much knowledge he has regarding the religion and its intricate practices.
The Character Of A Mufti
The question ‘What is a mufti?’ is not only related to the duties that he carries out but also closely to the intricate character that the mufti possesses. A true mufti’s character includes many traits symbolizing a beautiful relationship with the religion. Anything that comes from a mufti, whether a fatwa or not, reflects Islam in itself and preaches righteousness. A mufti’s character is alight from within and inspires others to become better Muslims and strengthen their relationship with Allah SWT.
How One Becomes A Mufti?
To become a mufti, a person first has to study the entire alim course, which takes eight years to complete. After this, the qualified alim takes part in the study of “specialization in fiqh,” which is often referred to as the ‘Ifta Course,’ which expands over one or two years under the supervision of a qualified mufti. Then he learns how to give fatwas according to the principles of the fiqh while remaining under the supervision of a qualified mufti.
Different Fiqhs and Muftis
There are four fiqhs in Islam.
- Hanafi (By Imam Abu Hanifa)
- Maliki (By Imam Abu Malik)
- Hanbali (By Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal)
- Shafi (By Imam Al Shafi)
All of these fiqhs have slightly different rules and regulations. For example, in Hanafi fiqh, the wajib prayer is sinful. In Shiafi fiqh, the witr prayer is a sunnah maukkadah, and whoever leaves it will not be sinful. All of these fiqh are completely valid according to Islam, but the slight differences between them require the person who decides to become a mufti to choose one fiqh and follow its teachings.
Faqih vs Mufti
A faqih is a scholar who studies the science of deriving legal rulings that are to be followed from the sources of Islamic law, such as the Quran and the hadith. Based on this, the faqih is involved in extensively studying the fiqh. On the other hand, the mufti is a qualified legal authority who gives a legal opinion in an answer to a specific query.
Can a woman be a mufti?
When one thinks about the question, ‘what is a Mufti?’ They usually think that only a man can be a mufti, but that is not true. Islam encourages both men and women to seek knowledge and spread the message of Islam to people. Therefore, women can also become muftis through the same process as men. Imam An Nawawi states that the conditions of becoming a mufit are as follows:
- The person should be mukallaf (meaning they should be old enough to be responsible for their actions).
- The person should be a Muslim.
- The person should be trustworthy.
- The person’s character should be free of anything that denotes fisq (outwardly sinful behavior).
- The person should have resonant thinking and a clear mind.
- The person should have correct ways of conducting themselves.
- The person should correctly deduce rulings.
If all of these conditions are met, it doesn’t matter whether the person is a man, woman, blind, or mute; they can be a mufti. One of the people who narrated the most hadiths from the Prophet PBUH was Aisha RA. Both men and women would ask her whatever questions they had due to her closeness with the Prophet PBUH and because of her knowledge and smartness. She was known throughout Madinah for her knowledge.