Thank you for your question.

Opinions are like hands and feet, everybody has them. The problem comes when unqualified members of the Muslim community give rulings and state matters as facts whereas they are not qualified to do so.

The basics of Islam are easy to understand and follow. God is One, worship Him alone. The Qur’an is easily accessible and the messages within it are very clear.

We find ourselves in grey areas from time to time, however, where we become unsure as to what is the right course of action. This comes from a sincere desire to please God and to set a good example for others to follow.

If you have a specific problem you feel requires the advice of a scholar of Islam, please contact the imam of your local masjid, or one of the scholars at Ask About Islam.

In general, there are many important qualifications that a scholar of Islam must possess to be able to offer advice or rulings:

1. Extensive knowledge of the texts of the Quran and Sunnah.
2. Extensive knowledge of the issues of consensus (ijmaa‘)
3. Well-versed in the Arabic language
4. Extensive knowledge of usool al-fiqh (basic principles of Islamic jurisprudence – how to come to a decision) including analogy (qiyaas).
5. Extensive knowledge of what cancels and what is cancelled (al-naasikh wa’l-mansookh).

To be able to offer rulings in Islam with any degree of authority requires even more than this, that other scholars of Islam recognize them to be scholars. Only true scholars of Islam know what it takes to be a scholar.

Also, prophet Muhammad advised that the Muslim nation as a community is guided by God in that we, as a people, do not accept or agree upon falsehood. We have been blessed by God enough that we will not allow wrongdoers from among us, to lead us all into ruin.

If you feel you are not well-versed in the Qur’an and Sunnah, and not likely to be able to learn them well, it is best to seek the guidance of an imam or scholar and refer to them for guidance in difficult matters.

If you are very well-read and well-informed of the meanings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, are able to discuss matters in depth and have a deep desire to study Islam and learn more, then I am confident that you will not fall into error in areas regarding major sins.

If a Muslim political leader, religious leader (imam/scholar), or anyone with influence should try to lead us astray, we have enough members in our community to recognize truth as truth, and falsehood as falsehood.

We must do our best to remain united so that we will not all be misguided by those with insufficient leadership skills, insufficient knowledge, or personal agendas that serve very few at the expense of the Muslim community or those outside of it.

Also, it is important to remember that differences among Islamic scholars is a mercy, not a problem. It is not necessarily a contradiction if a ruling is applied in one country and not another.

Nigeria is not Canada, and Mexico is not Saudi Arabia. Islam is flexible according to time and place and so long as the foundations are solid, it is OK for each Muslim community to have its own look and feel.

The basics of halal and haram do not change, however, societies in different parts of the world should not be expected to be carbon copies of each other.

“O mankind! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is All-knowing, All-aware.” (Qur’an Chapter 49: verse 13)

I hope this answers your question