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Question
Some people when they face a problem related to knowledge of the Islam they contact to the Islamic scholars in the Muslim world, but we live in another place like North America so the situation here is totally different from the Muslim world. So when we need to resolve some issue related about training in the place we live, shall we contact our scholars in America or we contact to the scholars in Muslim world?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Issuing Fatwa is among the most significant and most important matters of Islamic Sharee’ah. We ask Allah to help us in this service and forgive our sins. The Prophet was the responsible to issue Fatwa during his lifetime as Allah Says addressing His beloved Prophet (what means): {We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.} [Quran 16: 44]
Some scholars among the Companions also used to issue Fataawa in the period of the Prophet . Due to the seriousness of this job (giving a decree, issuing Fataawa), many knowledgeable righteous predecessors did not find courage to issue Fataawa; rather, they used to refer the people to other scholars to refrain from any involvement in this critical matter.
Therefore, one must, for Fatwa, consult a person who has more knowledge of the Quran, Hadeeth, the sayings of scholars and knows their agreements and disagreements. Moreover, he should be a God-fearing person, a person who is well-aware of contemporary matters and the situation of the people.
So, if you find in your area scholars who meet the above characteristics, then you should not leave them seeking Fataawa from others since they have knowledge of the Sharee’ah, and also they are fully aware of the matters and situations of the people in that area.
However, if one has doubts, or wants to increase his knowledge, then he may also refer to other scholars. The people from Maghrib (Northwest Africa) and Spain used to send people to enquire from Imam Maalik about religious matters, while he lived very far away in Madeenah.
For more benefit on the matter of issuing Fataawa and who is entitled to issue Fataawa, please refer to Fataawa 364594, 367462 and 313558.
Allah knows best.
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