Dr. Fathy Othman Al-Fiqy, Member of Senior Scholars Authority, mentioned that a mufti should be aware of people customs and their surrounding environment. He should not be imprisoned in books, living in isolation from people’s reality. This is based on the fact that Islamic Shariah mainly serves people’s needs and should be compatible with their reality. This previously mentioned fact gives Islamic Shariah its high status.
This was part of Dr. Al-Fiqy’s lecture on “Regulations of Iftaa” which is part of the 13th training round held for 45 Libyan imams and preachers. This training course, that lasted for two weeks and took place at Shaykh Zayed Center for Teaching Arabic to Non-Natives, is a collaboration between the World Organization for Al-Azhar Graduates and Al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers aimed at sharpening their preaching skills through an intensive legal program designed and delivered by distinguished Azhari scholars.
In addition, Dr. Al-Fiqy highlighted that a mufti should have good conduct and is capable of logical thinking and deduction away from false interpretations. His words should also be in harmony with his deeds and he should be aware of psychological, religious and financial conditions of people requesting a fatwa since all the factors affect the fatwa given.
