About this service
A fatwa is a scholar’s answer to a question about the Shariah, the guidance of Islam drawn from the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is given by a mufti, a scholar trained to derive rulings from these sources and from the principles of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). The centre offers fatwas through Dar ul Ifta International, England. You send your question and say what you need the answer for, and a mufti replies in writing, so you have a signed and stamped answer to keep or to show others.
يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ
“They ask you for a ruling, O Prophet. Say, ‘Allah gives you a ruling…’”
Qur’an An-Nisa’ 4:176 (opens in a new tab)Translation: The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
What’s included
- An answer to your question from a mufti at Dar ul Ifta International.
- A ruling based on the Qur’an, the Sunnah and established Islamic scholarship.
- A written fatwa, signed and stamped, sent to you by email.
Answered in 3–5 days
Your fatwa is emailed to you within 3 to 5 days of payment. If the mufti needs more detail to answer accurately, we’ll contact you first, which can add a little time.
Before you send your request
Write your question clearly, with the facts the answer depends on: who is involved, what happened and when, and any amounts or exact words used. A fatwa answers the situation as you describe it, so the more accurate the details, the more useful the answer.
The request form asks for your name, email and phone number, what you need the fatwa for, and your question. We’ll contact you if the mufti needs more detail before answering.
Your fee supports the charity
Service fees help fund the charity’s running costs and charitable work, including support for people who are poor or in need.
The listed fee is £20. Ask us about inclusions or cancellation terms if you need clarification before payment. Donations are separate and optional.
Questions about this service
What is a fatwa?
A fatwa is a scholar’s answer to a question about Islamic law, given to the person who asks. The word shares its Arabic root with the Qur’an’s “They ask you for a ruling… Say, ‘Allah gives you a ruling’” (4:176). A Dar ul Ifta, a “house of fatwa”, is where qualified scholars, called muftis, answer these questions.
Why do you ask what I need the fatwa for?
It shapes how the answer is written. A fatwa for your own understanding can be brief, while one you will show family, an imam or an organisation needs to set out the question and its basis in full.
Is a fatwa legally binding?
A fatwa explains what the Shariah says about your question. Unlike a judge’s ruling (qada’), it does not settle a dispute between people, and it has no legal force under UK law. For divorce, inheritance, immigration or other legal matters, please take advice from a solicitor as well.
What can I ask about?
Worship, marriage and family life, inheritance, business and money, food, and everyday questions of halal and haram. Some matters, such as ending a marriage through khula, need both sides to be heard by a Shariah council rather than answered in a fatwa. Ask us first if you’re unsure.
What happens after I send my request?
Complete the short form and pay securely through SumUp. Once payment is confirmed, we’ll email you a reference and begin reviewing your request. The centre will contact you soon about the next steps. You don’t need to book a time.
Qur’an & Sunnah references
These sources explain the religious practices. They do not establish the centre’s prices, programme lengths or individual outcomes.
Quotations are excerpts, so follow each link for the full text. Qur’an translations are from The Clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, and hadith translations from Sunnah.com.
Every ruling goes back to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
“Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger.”
Qur’an 4:59 (opens in a new tab)
Halal and haram are not ours to invent
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ
“Do not falsely declare with your tongues, ‘This is lawful, and that is unlawful,’ only fabricating lies against Allah.”
Qur’an 16:116 (opens in a new tab)
Asking is the cure for not knowing
أَلاَّ سَأَلُوا إِذْ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا فَإِنَّمَا شِفَاءُ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ
“Could they not ask when they did not know? The cure for ignorance is inquiry.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 336 (opens in a new tab)
A fatwa is a trust
مَنْ أُفْتِيَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ إِثْمُهُ عَلَى مَنْ أَفْتَاهُ
“If anyone is given a legal decision ignorantly, the sin rests on the one who gave it.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 3657 (opens in a new tab)
Why a fatwa needs a qualified scholar
اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُءُوسًا جُهَّالاً فَسُئِلُوا، فَأَفْتَوْا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ، فَضَلُّوا وَأَضَلُّوا
“People will take as their leaders ignorant persons who, when consulted, will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 100 (opens in a new tab)
A religious ruling, not legal advice
A fatwa answers the situation as you describe it, and it has no legal force under UK law. Where a court, solicitor or official process is involved, please take legal advice as well.