Questioner:

Is tazkiyah (commendation) a condition for a student of knowledge when he wishes to give fatwá or to teach?

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī

Necessary, necessary, “I did not sit (for giving fatwá) until it was said to me (to do so)” Imām Mālik said. Yes, it is necessary that it is testified for him that he is fit (capable) of sitting to (teach) knowledge.

Questioner:

Some of our brothers, O Shaykh, are not known with this. For example, he has studied and is known amongst his brothers with a sound creed and a safe methodology, and his brothers know that in his teaching there is much benefit, but the Scholars do not know him, so how are we able to acquire a tazkiyah for him in this scenario?

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī:

This occurs with two ways: The first is his being well known for knowledge, teaching and sitting (to benefit) the people in this field. The second is by way of commendation (tazkiyah). So if he is (a) not known and (b) does not have commendation then he is not fit for giving verdicts whoever he is. As for when he has become known amongst the people for knowledge, teaching and striving in that, and is known for this, then this is sufficient for the people of his land.

Questioner:

He does not have a tazkiyah until even in the issue of teaching, he does not have a tazkiyah from the people of knowledge for teaching to begin with.

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī

(Knowledge) is not taken except from one who is known and he has become well known for that (in his land) or the people of knowledge have testified this for him, and this [either of these two] is necessary.

Questioner:

When he is known for sound creed and methodology but none of the Scholars know him, but the rest of his brothers testify for him with sound creed and methodology…

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī

Being well known, they intend by this, being well known in the region in which he is, that the people (in that region) testify for him (that he has) knowledge and acquaintance, so when this becomes spread [word unclear] yes.

Questioner:

The beginner student of knowledge, O Shaykh, if he was to cite the fatwá of the major scholars and says, “The Scholars said such and such” without mentioning who the muftī (scholar) is…

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī

This is a mistake, it is not acceptable. Who are the Scholars (then)?!

Questioner:

In our land they are not pleased with the likes of the major scholars – our Shaykh – those who are senior in age, they do not know Shaykh Ibn Bāz, Shaykh Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn and Shaykh al-Albānī.

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī

If this is for a correct objective, the likes of this, then there is no harm in this.