What Do I Do If I Have Answered A Fiqh Question Incorrectly?

Question:

Assalamu ‘Alaykum.

If I have answered a question wrongly about fiqh in class, would that require me to repent?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

You should repent if you were not qualified to answer or if you didn’t know and just guessed without a sound legal basis for your answer. Regardless, you should speak to everyone who heard the answer and tell them that you made a mistake.

As long as you rectify the situation, you won’t be sinful for making a mistake when answering. Don’t be afraid to consult with teachers, and frequently practice saying the words that are considered half of the learning: I don’t know.

If you have not studied fiqh in depth – from the original Arabic sources – you should not be answering questions. If you have, speak to your teacher and ask him if you have reached a level where you can research and answer questions. If he says no, then don’t try to answer them.

Don’t try to rush things. Everything comes at the right time. Answering questions is a responsibility before Allah: learning its weight takes longer than learning the answers to those questions.

Direct the questioners to the SeekersGuidance answers service. It is an excellent resource for thousands of commonly asked questions. Most importantly – encourage people to engage in structured learning. This is the means to them empowering themselves with the knowledge of their din.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital; He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.