Saying “I do not know” when unsure is intellectual honesty, not weakness. One may consult a qualified scholar, gather the necessary facts, and then convey the response accurately.
Example 1: A student should not invent a ruling on a complicated divorce case.
Example 2: Avoid a definitive answer when essential details affecting the ruling are unknown.
Example 3: Distinguish ordinary moral encouragement from the issuance of a formal religious judgment.
Remember مَنْ أَفْتَاهُ: the warning highlights the responsibility of a person who gives a ruling without knowledge and misleads a questioner.