Meaning of Mufta Bihi

[ummtaalib]

Question

Assalamu Alaikum,

 

What does it exactly mean by mufti bihi opinion of any madhhab? Can you elaborate?

Was-salam.

 

 

Answer

 

Wa'alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

 

 

The literal meaning of Mufta bihi is 'the view on which fatwaa is given on'.

 

Basically, in every Madhab we have countless Fuqaha. At times, those who reached the status of Ijtihaad within a Madhab differ from others. For example, in the Hanafi Madhab, we have an elite student of Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him) - (Imam Muhammad, for example) - differing with him. Since the student too is a Mujtahid, there are times when a Mufti will pass verdict in accordance to the view of that student. That view becomes the Mufta Bihi (the view upon which verdict is given). If the verdict is passed on the view of Imam Abu Hanifa, then that is Mufta Bihi.

 

On a side note, this proves that a Madhab is not the work of one individual, rather it is the combined effort of thousands of scholars.

Tags: Mufta bihi